Postdoctoral Scholar Benefits & Funding
Most postdoctoral scholars are considered full-time academic appointments. Those who are paid salaries from Mizzou funds, including grants and contracts, are benefit-eligible employees who can participate in health, dental, vision, life, and retirement benefits. Service credit under the UM retirement program requires a minimum of 1500 hours worked per year.
In addition, as of July 1, 2025, those holding 12-month appointments are eligible for staff paid leave plans, including paid time off; parental leave; caregiver leave; winter break leave; and short-term disability. These benefits are detailed on the Faculty and Staff Benefits website.
Postdoctoral scholars who cannot be considered salaried university employees because they receive stipends or salary support directly from a granting agency or other funding source that does not allow university employee status as a condition of the award, are eligible to receive benefits, but the benefits package differs in some respects from that of individuals who are salaried employees of the university. As applicable, it is the responsibility of the faculty mentor and/or department chair to ensure that resources are available from grants, departmental funds or other university sources to cover the university’s share of the costs for medical insurance before a postdoctoral trainee is accepted.
The University of Missouri System Faculty and Staff Benefits Handbook provides a comprehensive list of benefits available to postdoctoral trainees who are classified as employees. Human Resources (HR) policies and procedures can be found here.
Educational relationship
A small number of postdocs are required to have an educational relationship with Mizzou by a funding agency. Postdoctoral scholars in this category typically receive support from the university through a federal training grant that enables them to pursue research and other training as defined above under the heading postdoctoral fellow. The benefits for these postdocs may differ and include the graduate medical insurance program and tuition support that in some instances, are subsidized fully or in part by Mizzou.
- Stipend-funded postdoctoral fellows, including postdoctoral scholars, are supported by NIH and select other training grants. The PI should budget for agency-allowable benefits. If the costs for insurance and educational benefits exceed the agency allowance, the difference will be subsidized by Mizzou.
- The postdoctoral fellow receives funding directly from a funding agency that does not pass through a university account and does not provide or allow support to defray costs of benefits. Mizzou will fully subsidize the graduate health insurance and fee waiver costs.
- Postdoctoral funding passes through a Mizzou account, but the granting agency does not allow benefit charges for stipend-funded postdocs. Mizzou will fully subsidize the graduate health insurance and fee waiver costs.
Funding/Compensation
Although faculty mentors are responsible for establishing the level of compensation for their postdoctoral scholars, it is expected that compensation will be consistent with the background of the trainee, the norms for the discipline and the minimum levels established by the Office of Postdoctoral Education. Minimum levels will be established annually and posted on the Postdoctoral Education Website at the beginning of the fall term.
- Job codes 6990 and 6980
- As of January 1, 2025, the minimum salary for new appointment is $55,000. The minimum salary for reappointments who started before January, 2025 is $47,476.
- The minimum salary for all new and reappointed postdocs will increase to $58,656 on January 1, 2028.
- Job code 6992 with 9-month contract
- For those hired or reappointed until August 31, 2025, the minimum salary is $36,000.
- For those hired or reappointed after September 1, 2025, the minimum salary is $43,992.
- Any teaching postdocs (job code 6992) with longer than a 9-month appointment should adjust accordingly.
- These minimum salaries may be superseded by specific funder or visa requirements.