The aim of this study was to assess the job satisfaction levels of academic staff in higher education institutions with specific reference to UG and PG colleges in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Teachers are the most important group of professionals who mould the minds of future generations. A satisfied teacher is an asset to an Institute. The participants of the study were 534 academic staff teaching in UG and PG colleges affiliated to Andhra University at Visakhapatnam. The data used in this paper is primary in nature. The Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire was administered to a sample of 650 academic staff, and 534 usable responses were received. In this analytical study, significant associations were found between personal variables of academic staff and their levels of job satisfaction. Research shows socioeconomic variables of the respondents did have an impact on their job satisfaction levels.

1. Babakus, E., Yavas, U., Karatepe, O. M., & Avci, T. (2003). The effect of management commitment to service quality on employees' affective and performance outcomes. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 31(3), 272 - 286. DOI 10.1177/0092070303031003005.
2. Ball, C. J., & Stenlund, V. (1990). The centrality of work, working conditions and job satisfaction of teachers in Canada: An Ontario study. Journal of Organizational Psychology, 26 (2-3), 319 - 330. DOI: 10.1080/0305006900260213.
3. Highereducationinindia.com (n.d.). "Education in India is seen as one of the ways to upward social mobility…". Retrieved from <a href=http://www.highereducationinindia.com/ target="_blank">http://www.highereducationinindia.com/</a>
4. Karatepe, O.M., Uludag, O., Menevis, I., Hadzimehmedagic, L., & Baddar, L. (2006). The effects of selected individual characteristics on frontline employee performance and job satisfaction. Tourism Management, 27(4), 547-560.
5. Kloep, M., & Tarifa, F. (1994). Working conditions, work style, and job satisfaction among Albanian teachers. International Review of Education, 40 (2), 159-172.
6. Locke, E.A. (1976). The nature and causes of job satisfaction. In M.D. Dunnette (Ed.). Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology (pp.1297-1349). Chicago: Rand McNally.
7. Mercer, D., & Evans, B. (1991). Professional myopia: Job satisfaction and the management of teachers. School Organization, 11 (3), 296-298. DOI:10.1080/0260136910110305
8. Mulige, M., & Mueller, C.W. (1998). Employee job satisfaction in developing countries: The case of Kenya. World Development, 26 (12), 2181-2199. <a href=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(98)00089-8 target="_blank">http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(98)00089-8</a>
9. Robbins, S. P. (2005). Organizational behavior (11th Ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall.
10. Smith, P. C., Kendall, L.M., & Hulin, C.L. (1969). The measurement of satisfaction in work and retirement: A strategy study of attitudes. Chicago: Rand McNally.
11. Wisniewski, L., & Gargiulo, R. (1997). Occupational stress and burnout among special educators: A review of the literature. The Journal of Special Education, 31 (3) 325-346. DOI: 10.1177/002246699703100303.
12. Weiss, D.J., Dawis, R.V., England, G.W., & Lofquist, L.H. (1967). Manual for the Minnesota satisfaction questionnaire. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota.