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As of October 1, 2024, all NIH ICs follow these unified stipend charts.
The following charts apply to all localities/NIH campuses. Intramural Training Research Award is abbreviated as IRTA. Cancer Research Training Award is abbreviated as CRTA.
Postdoctoral IRTA/CRTA/Visiting Fellow
Follow this process to estimate your stipend during the application and on-boarding process:
- Add up any full-time research experiences between the date you received your doctoral degree and the start date of your NIH postdoc position.
- Start at the “1st year” column and go down the column accounting for the experience calculated in step #1. Find the row that matches your amount of experience; this is your initial stipend.
- If your experience falls exactly between stipend tiers, your AO should use the higher level in setting your stipend.
- Your stipend increases to the next column on each annual renewal date. There is no stipend level increase for exceptional extensions beyond the 5th year.
| Prior experience | 1st year of postdoc | 2nd year of postdoc | 3rd year of postdoc | 4th year of postdoc | 5th year of postdoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 year | $67,200 | $71,550 | $75,400 | $81,000 | $84,450 |
| 1-2 years | $71,550 | $75,400 | $81,000 | $84,450 | $88,600 |
| 2-3 years | $75,400 | $81,000 | $84,450 | $88,600 | $94,150 |
| 3-4 years | $81,000 | $84,450 | $88,600 | $94,150 | $97,650 |
| 4-5 years | $84,450 | $88,600 | $94,150 | $97,650 | $103,600 |
| 5-6 years* | $88,600 | $94,150 | $97,650 | $103,600 | $107,100 |
| 6-7 years* | $94,150 | $97,650 | $103,600 | $107,100 | $111,050 |
Predoctoral IRTA/CRTA/Visiting Fellow
Follow this process to estimate your stipend during the application and onboarding process:
- Add up any full-time research experience, including postbac education or training, from the date you received your bachelor’s degree to the start date of your NIH position. Also add time spent enrolled in any graduate, medical, and professional school.
- Start at the “1st year” column and go down the column accounting for the experience calculated in step #1. Find the row that matches your experience level; this is your initial stipend.
- If your experience falls exactly between stipend tiers, your AO should use the higher level in setting your stipend.
- Your stipend increases to the next column on each annual renewal date. There is no stipend level increase for exceptional extensions beyond the 5th year.
| Prior experience | 1st year of predoc | 2nd year of predoc | 3rd year of predoc | 4th year of predoc | 5th year of predoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 year | $46,100 | $55,400 | $57,300 | $59,300 | $59,300 |
| 1-2 years | $48,300 | $55,400 | $57,300 | $59,300 | $59,300 |
| 2-3 years | $50,400 | $55,400 | $57,300 | $59,300 | $59,300 |
| >3 years | $50,400 | $55,400 | $57,300 | $59,300 | $59,300 |
Postbaccalaureate IRTA/CRTA
Follow this process to estimate your stipend during the application and onboarding process:
- Add up any full-time research experience, from the date you received your bachelor’s degree to the start date of your NIH position. This number determines your “years of experience”.
- Start at the “1st year” column, go down the column to the appropriate row determined by your assessment in step #1. Find the row that matches your experience level; this is your initial stipend.
- if your experience falls exactly between stipend tiers, your AO should use the higher level in setting your stipend.
- If you completed a master’s degree in a discipline related to biomedical sciences, you qualify for the master’s stipend tier and there is no consideration for full-time research experience.
- Your stipend increases on the date of your renewal; you can determine your stipend by consulting the column labeled second year.
| Degree | Prior experience | 1st year of postbac | 2nd year of postbac | 3rd year of postbac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 0-1 year | $41,700 | $52,600 | $54,900 |
| Bachelor's | 1-2 years | $43,900 | $52,600 | $54,900 |
| Bachelor's | 2+ years | $46,100 | $52,600 | $54,900 |
| Master's | Not applicable | $46,100 | $52,600 | $54,900 |
Student IRTA/CRTA
Follow this process to estimate your stipend during the application and on-boarding process:
- Student IRTA/CRTA stipends are based on educational level completed.
- Start at the “Educational level completed” column. Find the row that matches your experiences and refer to the corresponding “Monthly stipend”.
- Undergraduate levels include enrollment at least half-time in an accredited college (including community college and two-year tribal colleges) in the U.S.
- Graduate levels include enrollment in graduate (master’s and doctoral programs), medical and professional schools.
| Education level completed | Monthly stipend | |
|---|---|---|
| High School | Before graduation | $2,530 |
| High School | After graduation | $2,840 |
| Undergraduate | After 1 year | $3,010 |
| Undergraduate | After 2 years | $3,150 |
| Undergraduate | After 3 years or > | $3,310 |
| Graduate | Less than 1 year | $3,480 |
| Graduate | After 1 year | $3,660 |
| Graduate | After 2 years | $3,910 |
| Graduate | After 3 years or > | $4,190 |
Important things to keep in mind
- It is important to discuss your stipend when you accept an offer and before you start at NIH. Read more here: Plan your move.
- If you were offered a position and your onboarding was substantially delayed, you should check back to see if the stipend tables were updated so that your stipend is appropriately changed when you arrive.
- If you disagree with the determination made by your AO, please reach out to OITE for a discussion.
- Stipend tables are updated annually, in May.
Stipend updates coming in July 2026
Open the document linked below to view stipends that are effective as of July 1, 2026.
Contact us
Reach out to OITE-private@nih.gov if you have questions about your stipend.