PI Salary Cap and Stipends

When you prepare your budget, check the cap on the direct salary you can request using funds paid by a competing or noncompeting application, contract, or proposal.

Each year, Congress revises the cap on salaries for principal investigators of NIH grants and contracts and on stipend levels for trainees and fellowships.

Calendar Year 2009-- For Now, Salary Cap Remains at 2008 Levels

While we are operating under a continuing resolution, the salary cap stays at the 2008 level -- see below.

After NIH gets a budget, the new maximum salary will be $196,700. Keep the new level in mind for future requests. NIH announced this in the January 16, 2009, Guide notice.

NIH has not announced new levels for fellowship and training stipends.

Current 2008 Salary Caps and Stipend Levels

• PI Salary Cap
  • $191,300; see the January 16, 2009, Guide notice.
• Stipend Levels
  • NIH is keeping funding for fellowship and training stipends at the 2007 levels shown in the March 14, 2007, Guide notice.

You can learn more in the Salaries and Stipends questions and answers. See Budget and Funding for more financial information such as NIAID Paylines and Financial Management Plan. Know what information to expect and when at Paylines and Budget Page Changes Throughout the Year.