Compensation
Minimum Compensation
Effective July 1, 2026, the George Washington University (GW) set a minimum compensation of $63,480 for new postdoctoral appointees. This compensation aligns with year zero of the FY26 National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Research Service Awards (NRSA) scale, which is a national standard. The minimum will apply across all GW departments and units, regardless of funding source.
| Postdoc Experience Level | Annual Compensation Range |
Basic Advanced Maximum | $63,480 – $71,747 ≥ $71,748 $91,000 |
NIH updates the NRSA scale on an annual basis. GW will continue to reference it to inform starting compensation. GW encourages supervisors to set starting compensation based on years of postdoctoral experience, tied to the FY26 NIH NRSA scale.
These ranges are intended to guide salary decisions and promote equity across schools and research units.
To request an exception to the established compensation guidance, please submit a memo to the Office of Postdoc Affairs with a detailed justification outlining the reasons for the exception, why it is both necessary and appropriate, as well as the signature of your school's Associate Dean for Research.
All compensation is subject to the initial and continued availability of funding as well as any terms and conditions, if applicable, set forth by the sponsor funding the appointment. OPA works closely with the faculty mentors and deans to initiate compensation reviews of current postdocs.
It is strongly recommended that postdoctoral scholars consult the IRS and/or a tax professional to understand the tax implications. The National Postdoc Association also provides an Overview of Tax Issues for Postdocs.
Postdoctoral scholars funded by NIH T32 awards may contact the postdocsupport
gwu [dot] edu (postdocsupport[at]gwu[dot]edu) for a suggested letter template regarding IRS self-employment tax (please note that you will probably only need the template if you receive a letter from the IRS asking you to explain why you are not liable for self-employment tax for the income you made from the T32 that was reported on the 1099-MISC; the IRS does not always send this letter).
- The IRS requires estimated payment of income tax each quarter, since it is not deducted from a fellowship check
- Your state might also require quarterly payments (DC – MD – VA)
- We can’t give accounting or tax advice, but here are some GW resources where you can find additional information: