Academia in general — and science in particular — is a meritocracy, with the spoils of tenure and higher salaries going to the best and brightest. But a recent report on salary and tenure in the United States shows that the number of people in the higher ranks is shrinking. And the difference in the way the best and the rest are rewarded is becoming more pronounced.

According to a recent report by the US National Education Association based on US Department of Education data for 1998–99 (http://www.nea.org/he/heupdate/vol7no3.pdf), tenured professors at private research institutions earned $31,000 more on average than their non-tenure-track colleagues, and tenured faculty at public research institutions earned $26,000 more than their colleagues at the same universities. Meanwhile, the percentage of all faculty with tenure fell from 35% in the 1992–93 Department of Education survey to 32% in this year's report.

The analysis does not draw a perfect picture of science salaries because the report does not break down the data by academic disciplines. But departments in science and technology tend to be among the highest paid, so it seems safe to derive some conclusions from the report. It also meshes broadly with other reports, such as the US National Science Foundation's science and engineering indicators, and a 2000–01 study by the American Association of University Professors.

If this trend does indeed apply to science, it could bode ill for the long-term health of academia. Universities should not be surprised if more people leave for industrial careers, or do not even consider academia. A secure position in academia was once considered the height of meritocracy. But, with the odds of advancement tightening, it will not be surprising if the best and the brightest pursue other options.