Average salary increases for 3,781 faculty in the field of physics are reported for 1984-1985 and 1987-1988, as part of the College and University Personnel Association's annual faculty salary studies. Included are comparative data for 160,596 faculty at 216 public colleges and 266 private colleges, representing 45 academic disciplines. In 1984, 157 public colleges and 165 private colleges reported on physics faculty salaries, while 163 public and 169 private colleges reported in 1987. In 1987-88, the faculty salary factor in this field was approximately 10% and 18% above the overall average faculty salary of the other 44 disciplines/major fields for both public and private colleges, respectively. The average salary for the field in the private colleges was 11% higher than in the public colleges in 1984-85. In 1987-88, the average salary in the private colleges was 10% higher than in the public colleges. Included is information on: the number of faculty by academic rank, including new assistant professors; salaries by academic rank; the ratio of average salaries to total salaries of all institutions in both years; comparisons with the Consumer Price Index of changes in cost-of-living for both years; and comparisons with 44 other disciplines. The disciplines and participating institutions are listed. (KM)