STEM: Additional Data Needed on Graduate Researcher and Postdoctoral Scholar Compensation

What GAO Found

GAO found that about 62,500 graduate researchers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and 22,000 STEM postdoctoral scholars (postdocs) received federal funding in academic year 2023, according to analysis of federal data.

Number of STEM Graduate Researchers by Funding Source and Research Field, Academic Year 2023

Number of STEM Postdoctoral Scholars (Postdocs) by Funding Source and Research Field, Academic Year 2023

Federal agencies fund graduate researchers and postdocs either directly-such as through a research fellowship-or indirectly-such as through a grant to a university. For direct funding, agencies are responsible for setting compensation levels. Directly funded STEM postdocs earned a median annual income of $60,000 in academic year 2023-the most recent year for which data were available. Such data are not available for graduate researchers. Universities and other institutions are responsible for setting indirect funding compensation levels. These institutions set compensation based on applicable laws, established policies and practices, geographic market prices, and other considerations. Comprehensive data are not available on indirectly funded compensation, but GAO's analysis of university information found median indirect compensation levels to be about $62,200 for postdocs and $36,000 for graduate researchers in academic year 2025. The most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that a full-time worker with a doctoral degree-a similarly educated group compared to postdocs-earned about $118,000.

Agencies collect varied compensation data for graduate researchers and postdocs, depending on whether they are directly or indirectly funded. For example, the Department of Defense collects stipend information for directly funded graduate researchers and postdocs but not for those that are indirectly funded. This variation creates data gaps. The National Science Foundation (NSF)-the principal federal statistical agency for the STEM workforce-also collects some data on graduate researcher and postdoc compensation but does not collect these data in a manner that allows for a detailed assessment of the adequacy of compensation. NSF would be in a better position to provide policymakers with a more complete picture of the financial health and stability of the U.S. STEM research workforce if it were to comprehensively identify gaps in data needed to fully assess the adequacy of compensation and to assess the feasibility of collecting such data.

In 2022, Congress directed NSF to sponsor a study on graduate student funding, including the effects of different funding mechanisms on graduate student experiences and outcomes. As of March 2026, NSF had not engaged an entity to complete the required study, nor has it established a timeline to do so. Establishing a timeline would help ensure that the study is completed. In turn, completing this study would provide Congress and other policymakers with information to understand existing funding mechanisms' effectiveness and help them determine actions needed to improve graduate researcher experiences and outcomes.

Factors that influence graduate researcher and postdoc recruitment and retention include future career goals, development opportunities, and funding stability, according to 72 postdocs and graduate researchers who responded to GAO's questionnaire. Respondents also identified challenges, including low pay and the cost-of-living in higher cost areas. Stakeholders GAO interviewed said the lack of benefits, such as family and caregiver-oriented support, is a recruitment challenge and may prompt postdocs and graduate researchers to evaluate whether to pursue a program.

Why GAO Did This Study

A robust STEM workforce drives innovation and economic growth and supports U.S. national security. Federal agencies have invested billions of dollars annually in STEM research, which includes investments in graduate researcher and postdoc training. These researchers may receive monetary compensation such as stipends, salaries, and wages, and fringe benefits such as vacation, sick leave, and health insurance. But compensation may be low relative to other professionals with the same level of education and experience. GAO was asked to examine federal compensation for STEM graduate researchers and postdocs. This report examines how many graduate researchers and postdocs receive compensation, the federal role in establishing such compensation, and how compensation-related factors influence recruitment and retention, among other things. GAO selected eight agencies for review-six that provided over 80 percent of federal funding to science and engineering graduate researchers in academic year 2021, and two additional agencies that either collect relevant statistical data or coordinate federal STEM initiatives. GAO also reviewed agency data, interviewed agency officials and stakeholders, and administered an online questionnaire to 72 STEM graduate researchers and postdocs, among other methods.