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NIH Salary Cap

Effective January 8, 2017, the NIH salary cap will increase from $185,100 to $187,000.

Every year since 1990, Congress has legislatively mandated a provision limiting the direct salary that an individual may receive under an NIH grant. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, restricts the amount of direct salary to Executive Level II of the Federal Executive pay scale.  The Executive Level II salary is increased to $187,000 effective January 8, 2017.  NIH grant/contract awards for applications/proposals that request direct salaries of individuals in excess of the applicable rate will be adjusted in accordance with the new salary limitation. 

You should begin using the new salary cap in proposals and applications for funding as per NIH Notice #NOT-OD-17-049.

Click here for additional information from the Procedure Library about applying a salary cap.

Last Updated: 12/1/22