Most states have laws where they publish state employee salary data. Most academic institutions are state university hospitals, so faculty are state employees. You can look up faculty. Then search the salary database and see what people make.
It’s not that simple…see following post by a PD ( nade0016 who is active on SDN and always provides great advice and insight):
“OK, So I currently have a salary of $287,000 base with an augmentation from the OR and for being on call that totals another 100K. So depending on OR production and call frequency I bring in (pre-tax) between 360-390K per year. Then I also have a one day a week in PP with Pacific Dental Services. This add another 200-250K/year pre-tax. So, all told, pretax I am at between 560-740K per year pre-tax and this depends on many factors but last year it was 605K based on my tax return.
As for building the practice that will depend on what type of practice and the location you are at. Example, for hospital based academics it will take a few years if you rely on the hospital system to get you referral and depending on how active you are in soliciting referrals. My experience is hospitals are tougher to develop a practice and referral pattern unless you come into a situation where a surgeon just left and you step into their role. In dental schools the referral pattern is already built in but will generally be more bread and butter OMS. As well, in a SoD you will probably have (get to) teach pre-doc some as well as residents. I get great benefits, significant time off (when I am off, I still get paid) where as when you are in PP if you take a vacation you are not generating revenue. There are so many advantages to the academic route that, for me, those benefits out weighed the additional 200-300K of income. Plus I get to do big cases (what I trained for) and some prestige in the community. I am now involved in committees and task forces that I would never have imagined when I was in residency.
If you are purely concerned about money (loans, etc.) then don't go into academics. It is slower to develop an income stream and you really need patience to work in academics but the reward is awesome. I have been at my University for only about 8 years and the SoD is paying for me to go to grad school and take administration courses so I can pursue becoming a Dean or Hospital administrator. Its an area that would not be an option in PP.
Lastly, you asked if there was something I would have asked for when I initially started in academics. Not really, I have had good mentors that have wanted me to succeed and put me on the path to where I am now. So if you decide to go into academics, make sure you have a good mentor with your career and interests at heart. They should be trying to build you up and get you into their position.
We could also speak about the tenure versus non-tenure differences but that is a much more in depth discussion.”
