An Analysis of Job Satisfaction Among Pharmacy Faculty in the United States

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the level of job satisfaction among faculty in Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy in the United States. Responses to survey questions regarding personal and demographic information were used to analyze differences in satisfaction among the faculty. Methods: A prospective study was performed by distributing an email containing a weblink to a questionnaire to 1,000 randomly selected full-time faculty members in Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy in the United States. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Roster of Faculty and Professional Staff for the 2005-2006 academic year was used to generate the list. The weblink directed prospective participants to a questionairre constructed on www.surveymonkey.com. Responses were collected from the website questionairre and analyzed using analysis of variance to interpret the data. Results: A total of 266 participants responded. The mean level of overall job satisfaction for the faculty was 3.6 (+ 1.0). The survey demonstrated significant differences in levels of overall job satisfaction particularly when related to faculty salary categories with the higher salaries generally showing higher levels of satisfaction than those in lower salary categories. Additionally, it showed that factors such as having time for family and other personal needs and opportunity to educate were more important than good salary and benefit packages. Conclusions: Faculty members employed in Colleges or Schools of Pharmacy in the United States are generally satisfied with their jobs.