H2O Member | Fri Jun 12, 2020 | 12:14 AM | Likes: 3 

Differences between ranks and levels

Categories: Tech, Education | Pubby Cash Received:  10 |

People might be confused about the differences between ranks and levels. In this article, I will explain their concepts and why they need to be separated. Take academic ranks in the United States as an example. Academic ranks are the titles, relative importance and power of professors, researchers, and administrative personnel held in academia. The most common hierarchy for professors are three ranks: assistant professor, associate professor, and full professor. In some cases, chaired professor is also considered as a rank higher than regular full professor. In addition to ranks, the academia also has levels. Ranks are the titles printed on business cards to show people, while levels are different. Levels are mainly used internally for salary reference. In China, professors have 13 levels despite that the ranks are only 4. Their relationship between levels and ranks are as follows: Full Professor Level 1: Full professors who are academicians Level 2: Full professors who gain "Thousand Talent" titles and the like Level 3: Full professors who gain "Youth Thousand Talent" titles and the like Level 4: Full professors with no honorary titles Associate Professor Level 5, Level 6, Level 7 Assistant Professor Level 8, Level 9, Level 10 Technician Level 11, Level 12, Level 13 As far as I know, the base salary for a level 9 assistant professor is 5K while a level 4 full professor is 10K in China. In addition, levels sometimes can be used externally and printed on business cards. For example, a Level 2 Full Professorship is right below academicians and definitely worth bragging about. However, it will be weird if professors in lower ranks advertise their levels. Who cares an assistant professor is level 8, level 9, or level 10? The rank is what really matters. For the pubbies community, there are four ranks: member, community member, staff, and head staff. This resembles the real civilian world scenario that there is no need to introduce more ranks than needed. Otherwise, it will be hard for people to memorize and instantly see their differences. For example, military ranks are many, but how many people can tell major and captain, which rank is higher? Instead, the use of multiple levels within a certain rank is appropriate and efficient for internal promotions and salary raises.