Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the levels of job satisfaction among academicians in the universities of Turkey and to examine the effects of demographics on levels of satisfaction among them. Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire-based study was conducted in 648 academicians working in the Universities of Turkey. Data were collected using the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) short form. Findings: The job satisfaction levels of the academicians were found to be moderately high. Social status was ranked as the highest and compensation was ranked as the lowest of the examined items. The results of the study indicated that professors reported a higher level of job satisfaction as compared to instructor and research assistants. Nonetheless, among the demographic variables age, length of service in present university and in higher education as a whole were significantly related to job satisfaction. Marital status and gender were not significantly related to job satisfaction. Originality/value: This study shows the job satisfaction levels of academicians and the interrelationships between demographic characteristics and satisfaction in the Universities of Turkey, hence the results from this study can help the academicians and the university administrators to increase the satisfaction level. (Contains 7 tables and 1 note.)