Speaking for Rethink Priorities, I’d just like to add that benchmarking to market rates is just one part of how we set compensation, and benchmarking to academia is just one part of how we might benchmark to market rates.
In general, academic salaries are notoriously low and I think this is harmful for building long-term relationships with talent that let them afford a life that we want them to be able to live. Also we want to be able to attract the top-tier of research assistant and a higher salary helps with that.
I totally agree—like I said above, I don’t think paying above market rate is necessarily erroneous, but I was just responding to Khorton’s question of how many EA orgs actually paid above market rate. And as you point out, attracting top talent to tackle important research questions is very important and I definitely agree that this is main perk of paying higher salaries.
In this case of research, I also agree! Academic salaries are far too low and benchmarking to academia isn’t even necessarily the best reference class (as one could potentially do research in the private sector and get paid much more).
Speaking for Rethink Priorities, I’d just like to add that benchmarking to market rates is just one part of how we set compensation, and benchmarking to academia is just one part of how we might benchmark to market rates.
In general, academic salaries are notoriously low and I think this is harmful for building long-term relationships with talent that let them afford a life that we want them to be able to live. Also we want to be able to attract the top-tier of research assistant and a higher salary helps with that.
I totally agree—like I said above, I don’t think paying above market rate is necessarily erroneous, but I was just responding to Khorton’s question of how many EA orgs actually paid above market rate. And as you point out, attracting top talent to tackle important research questions is very important and I definitely agree that this is main perk of paying higher salaries.
In this case of research, I also agree! Academic salaries are far too low and benchmarking to academia isn’t even necessarily the best reference class (as one could potentially do research in the private sector and get paid much more).