
Respect and collaboration at the departmental level.
This is a top university because of its academic professionals at the departmental levels. These function at a high level *in spite* of upper administration, not thanks to the policy directions set by UC as a whole.
Post-Doc compensation at UC is competitive with national averages ... while UCB is located in one of the most expensive areas of the country. Would you be happy with 4.5k/month pay (before taxes), if the average 2-bedroom apt near your place of work costs 3.5k/month? I am not.
My colleagues at the departmental level are professionals at the top of their fields, and are a joy to work for/with. This is in stark contrast with upper level UC administration, who adopt a policy of paying researchers only enough to scrape by, but not enough to thrive or raise a family near UCB.