This study examined the salaries of full-time higher education faculty over the 10 years from 1981-82 to 1991-92 at universities, colleges, and community colleges. The study used data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and from the Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS). Highlights of the findings include the following: (1) in 1991-92 full-time instructional faculty on 9- and 10-month contracts earned an average salary of $43,900; (2) increases in average salaries have given faculty income gains that exceeded the rate of inflation until 1990-91 when salaries did not keep pace with inflation for the first time in 9 years; (3) average salaries at 2-year public institutions remain higher than those at 2-year private institutions; (4) the gap in average salaries of instructors at public versus private 2-year colleges has increased from 26.2 to 69.2 percentage points; (5) average salaries in constant dollars have continued over the decade to be higher for men than for women--$46,800 versus $37,500, for all ranks combined in 1991-92; and (6) average salaries by state for full-time instructional faculty on 9- and 10-month contracts ranged from $52,723 for California to $31,687 in Mississippi. Much of the document consists of the survey instrument itself, a description of the population, and study methodology. (Contains 2 figures and 19 tables.) (JB)