GAO Examines STEM Scholar Compensation

By: CJ Neely
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that compensation for graduate researchers and postdoctoral scholars varies widely across federally supported programs in the United States, and that federal agencies lack the data needed to fully assess whether pay and benefits are adequate to sustain the national STEM workforce.

According to the report, about 62,500 graduate researchers, or about 27 percent of all U.S. graduate researchers, and 22,000 postdocs, roughly 50 percent, received direct or indirect federal support in academic year 2023. Most federally supported scholars are funded indirectly through research grants to universities, where institutions set compensation levels within federal cost guidelines.

Compensation also varies across funding mechanisms. Directly funded postdocs earned a median of about $60,000 in 2023, while indirectly funded postdocs earned approximately $62,200 based on available university data. Graduate researchers earned substantially less, with median compensation around $36,000. Federal fellowship programs illustrate additional variation, with stipends such as those provided through the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program offering $37,000 plus an education allowance. Across groups, compensation is generally lower than earnings for similarly educated workers.

The report also highlights significant inconsistencies in benefits. While most directly funded postdocs are offered health insurance and paid leave, access to benefits varies widely for those funded through institutional grants, particularly for individuals classified as fellows rather than employees, who may not receive standard employment benefits. In addition, agencies do not consistently coordinate compensation levels across programs, though some benchmark against stipend guidance from the National Institutes of Health.

A central finding of the report is the lack of comprehensive, standardized data. Federal agencies collect compensation information inconsistently, and no centralized dataset exists to assess pay or benefits across programs and institutions. This gap limits the ability of policymakers to evaluate whether compensation is adequate to support recruitment and retention in federally funded research careers.

Survey findings cited in the report indicate that compensation and cost of living are key factors shaping career decisions. Respondents reported that insufficient pay and financial instability can push trainees toward higher-paying opportunities in the private sector or out of research entirely. At the same time, higher compensation may reduce the number of positions institutions can support under fixed grant funding.

The report makes two recommendations to the National Science Foundation (NSF). First, NSF should identify gaps in existing compensation data and assess the feasibility of collecting more comprehensive information. Second, NSF should establish a timeline to complete a congressionally mandated study on graduate student funding under the CHIPS and Science Act.

As federal agencies continue to invest in the STEM workforce, GAO emphasizes that improved data and greater transparency will be critical to ensuring that compensation structures align with workforce needs and long-term U.S. competitiveness.