To put some actual numbers on it, here are the NIH Postdoc salaries for 2019. https://www.bu.edu/researchsupport/2018/12/05/nih-announces-fy-2019-updates-to-nrs

To put some actual numbers on it, here are the NIH Postdoc salaries for 2019. https://www.bu.edu/researchsupport/2018/12/05/nih-announces-fy-2019-updates-to-nrsa-stipends-tuition-fees-and-other-budgetary-levels/ https://www.bu.edu/researchsupport/2018/12/05/nih-announces-... With a PhD + 7 years of experience, you make the princely sum of $61,308. Due to how research funding is structured, it is very difficult to negotiate a salary that's much above this. These jobs tend to cluster in expensive areas (Boston, NYC, California) too.