I often see the following line in position announcements, and it seems a
little vacant:

"SALARY: Commensurate with experience and qualifications"

Seems like salary depends on the geographic region, or how an institution
values an advanced degree, or whether the position is exempt -- all at
least as much as an applicant's experience and qualifications.  I would
find it more informative to see a line something like:

Salary:  $38,000 to $42,000, commensurate with experience/qualifications.
Cost of Living is 1.03% national average.

Not only does that provide prospective applicants with that "critical
factor" info necessary to judge things like "can I afford to move," but it
also may reduce search costs because applicants are more serious and
realistic about the position.  Also, it gives the rest of us a scan across
the country of what our "going rate" really is.

[Of course, what I'd *really* like to see is $78,000 to $85,000, but I
only learned last year the tooth fairy isn't real, either.]

................................................................
Celia S. Walker
Assistant to VP Research      INTERNET:xxxxxx@vines.colostate.edu
Colorado State University     TEL:303/491-6355   DESK:303/491-7784
Ft. Collins, CO  80523        FAX:303/491-6147