The influence of rank on the job satisfaction of organizational members

Investigates the effects of rank on the job satisfaction of UK academics. A questionnaire was designed including several demographic questions such as rank, gender and age. This was administered to 1,102 university teachers. A total of 554 responses were received, giving a response rate of 50.3 per cent. The results indicate that rank has a direct, positive and significant effect on the job satisfaction of university teachers, but not age or gender. Lecturers are least satisfied with their jobs followed by senior lecturers, readers and professors in that order. In addition, the interaction effect between rank and gender on job satisfaction is statistically significant. This means that although gender by itself is not significantly related to job satisfaction, it is significant when compared together with the rank of university teachers. Female academics at higher ranks, namely, senior lecturers, readers and professors, are more satisfied with their jobs than male academics of comparable ranks. Further analyses show that rank by itself and the interaction effect between rank and gender are significantly related to satisfaction with pay, promotions and the physical conditions/working facilities which pertain to UK universities.