Automation.com 2008 Salary Survey Results

First, we'd like to say "Thank you!" to everyone who took the time to complete our 2008 survey.  These salary statistics and information are specific to the Automation.com audience and/or subscribers (industrial automation, process control, and instrumentation engineers and other professionals) and are relative to job function, industry type, education level, years of experience, etc.  Click here to see survey questions.

The following results were generated from a total of 898 U.S. responses only. The results are depicted in chart and table form. Scroll to the bottom of this page to read some interesting observations from this survey.

The percent numbers indicated in the right-hand column are relative to the total number of survey respondents of 898.

Indicator	Percentage of Respondents or Average
Job Function	Automation/Control Engineering (40.9%)
Average Age	43.9
Gender	Male (94.5%)
US Geograpic Region	Midwest (25.1%)
Education Level	College graduate (45.2%, 16.9% have advanced degree)
Degree Received  (Field of Study)	Electrical Engineering (26.4%)  No Degree Received (25.6%)
Years of Experience	18.3 (average)
Years with Present Employer	2 year or less (32.2%)  3 to 5 years (24.5%)
Annual Salary	$88,252 (average)
Bonus Last Year	None (40.8%)
Typical Work Week	46.8 hours (average)
Vacation	2.9 Weeks per year (average)
Job Satisfaction	Somewhat satisfied (47.6%)
Top 3 Job Satisfaction Factors	Salary (48.2%)  Technical challenge (42.2%)  Good relationship with work colleagues (39.6%)
Top 3 Benefits, excluding salary	Health Insurance (59.6%)  Pension Plan/401K (45.7%)  Flexible Working Hours (43.0%)

The percent numbers indicated in the right-hand column are relative to the total number of survey respondents of 898.

Job Function	Average Salary	Percent Respondents
Automation/Control Engineering	$85,395	40.9%
Design Engineering	$83,083	3.3%
Engineering Management	$112,188	4.5%
General or Operations Management	$106,900	2.8%
Inside Sales	$71,667	0.7%
Instrumentation Engineering	$97,788	2.9%
Marketing & Public Relations	$87,391	5.1%
Operations and Maintenance	$70,600	5.6%
Outside Sales	$103,060	7.5%
Plant Engineering	$95,714	0.8%
Process Engineering	$68,125	0.9%
Production/Manufacturing Engineering	$67,813	1.8%
Quality Control, Evaluation & Testing	$61,429	0.8%
Research & Development	$86,944	2.0%
Systems Integration/Consulting	$93,084	8.6%
Technical/ Application Support	$82,457	6.5%
Training/Education	$75,000	0.6%
Other	$94,333	5.0%

The percent numbers indicated in the right-hand column are relative to the total number of survey respondents of 898.

Industry	Average Salary	Percent Respondents
Raw material processing	$89,966	8.1%
Manufacturer of machinery and equipment	$83,845	13.3%
Aircraft, missile or ordnance manufacturing	$81,000	0.6%
Instrumentation and control equipment manufacturing	$92,790	12.5%
Automotive or other transportation equipment manufacturing	$73,929	3.1%
Other fabricated metal	$76,429	1.6%
Miscellaneous manufacturing	$81,712	8.1%
Utility services (gas, electric, waterworks, etc.)	$90,260	5.3%
Engineering/construction	$102,983	9.8%
Research & development	$79,583	2.0%
Software	$93,462	1.4%
Product distributor or rep group	$85,833	4.7%
System Integration	$89,065	15.5%
Training/Education	$55,313	0.9%
Other	$88,369	13.1%

The percent numbers indicated in the right-hand column are relative to the total number of survey respondents of 898.

Years of Work Experience	Average Salary	Percent Respondents
2 years or less	$48,833	3.3%
3 to 5 years	$59,015	7.3%
6 to 10 years	$75,124	11.2%
11 to 15 years	$80,194	17.3%
16 to 20 years	$96,258	17.5%
21 to 25 years	$95,408	16.4%
26 to 30 years	$101,011	15.1%
31 or more years	$97,571	11.8%

The percent numbers indicated in the right-hand column are relative to the total number of survey respondents of 898.

Years With Present Employer	Average Salary	Percent Respondents
2 years or less	$82,811	32.2%
3 to 5 years	$84,818	24.5%
6 to 10 years	$90,872	21.4%
11 to 15 years	$86,267	8.4%
16 to 20 years	$105,061	4.6%
21 to 25 years	$103,370	5.1%
26 to 30 years	$101,413	2.6%
31 or more years	$120,000	1.3%

The percent numbers indicated in the right-hand column are relative to the total number of survey respondents of 898.

Highest Level of Education	Average Salary	Percent Respondents
Advanced Degree	$101,332	16.9%
Attended Some Graduate School	$84,082	5.5%
College Graduate	$89,766	45.2%
Attended Some College	$85,323	12.9%
Technical/Trade School Graduate	$75,065	12.8%
Attended Some Technical/Trade School	$74,615	2.9%
High School Graduate	$83,981	3.0%
Attended Some High School	$91,429	0.8%

This data is calculated from the 538 respondents who indicated they have received a Bachelor's Degree. The percent numbers are relative to the total number of survey respondents of 898. Please note that some respondents reported they have more than one degree.

Degree (Bachelor)	Average Salary	Percent Respondents
Electrical Engineering	$93,613	26.4%
Electrical Engineering Technology	$78,750	8.0%
Mechanical Engineering	$98,080	7.7%
Control Engineering	$79,250	2.8%
Chemical Engineering	$106,512	5.9%
Other Engineering	$88,355	5.3%
Physics	$87,143	1.9%
Computer Science	$96,912	4.7%
Mathematics	$82,500	1.0%
Other Science	$80,556	2.5%
Business Administration	$94,815	3.7%
IT/Systems	$82,000	0.7%
Liberal Arts	$84,643	2.9%
All Other	$84,167	0.8%

This data is calculated from 198 (16.9%) respondents who indicated they have received an Advanced Degree. The percent numbers are relative to the 198 respondents who indicated they have an advanced degree. Please note that some respondents reported they have more than one advanced degree.

Degree (Advanced)	Average Salary	Percent Respondents
Electrical Engineering	$93,163	24.7%
Electrical Engineering Technology	$70,000	3.0%
Mechanical Engineering	$94,423	6.6%
Control Engineering	$82,763	9.6%
Chemical Engineering	$120,909	5.6%
Other Engineering	$105,313	8.1%
Physics	$105,000	1.0%
Computer Science	$107,273	5.6%
Mathematics	$63,333	1.5%
Other Science	$101,667	1.5%
Business Administration	$107,115	26.3%
IT/Systems	$90,000	2.5%
Liberal Arts	$90,000	1.0%
All Other	$84,167	3.0%

The percent numbers indicated in the right-hand column are relative to the total number of survey respondents of 898.

Gender	Average Salary	Percent Respondents
Male	$89,588	94.5%
Female	$67,041	5.5%

The percent numbers indicated in the right-hand column are relative to the total number of survey respondents of 898.

Employment Type	Average Salary	Percent Respondents
Contractor	$100,000	7.1%
Direct Employee	$87,464	92.9%

The percent numbers indicated in the right-hand column are relative to the total number of survey respondents of 898.

US Geographic Region	Average Salary	Percent Respondents
Great Lakes	$84,178	8.1%
Mid-Atlantic	$86,127	11.4%
Midwest	$82,378	25.1%
New England	$90,779	8.6%
Pacific Northwest	$96,211	7.1%
So-Cal	$93,424	5.1%
South	$92,028	10.0%
Southeast	$85,226	14.8%
Southwest	$100,199	9.8%

The percent numbers indicated in the right-hand column are relative to the total number of survey respondents of 898.

Company or Division Size	Average Salary	Percent Respondents
less than 30	$85,181	21.5%
30 to 49	$79,375	8.0%
50 to 99	$87,370	10.7%
100 to 249	$87,874	14.1%
250 to 499	$82,527	10.5%
500 to 999	$87,537	7.5%
1,000 to 4,999	$93,988	13.5%
5,000 to 9,999	$95,000	4.8%
10,000 or more	$100,735	9.5%

Great news! In one year, the average overall salary jumped from $83,623 to $88,252...roughly a 5.5% increase since 2007. I've always said that with the skills shortage in our industry, automation professionals will be in higher demand and, as a result, they will be able to command higher salaries. This is proof of that trend.

It pays to obtain an advanced degree (or even attend some graduate school)...those with an advanced degree have a $11,566 higher annual salary ($101,332) than those with a bachelor's degree ($89,766). This salary difference increased by more than $1500 since last year.

The highest paying job function was Engineering Management at $112,118. General or Operations Management was next in line at $106,900, followed by Outside Sales at $103,060. It pays to be in management! And as you might expect the next highest salary was associated with all those hard working outside sales guys.

The highest paid degrees were Chemical Engineering at $106,500 followed by Mechanical Engineering at $98,085.

Guess which region within the U.S. demands the highest salary. If you guessed Southern California, you're WRONG. The full Southwest region takes the cake this year with an average salary $101,199. The Pacific Northwest region came in second at $96,211, with Southern California coming in third at $93,424.

Independent contractors (7.1% of respondents) are bringing in an average of $100,000 per year compared to the $87,464 salary of direct employees...that's more than a $12,536 difference.

Professionals working for very small companies (fewer than 30 people) are paid higher than those working for companies with 30 to 49 people, or those working for companies with 250 to 499. But otherwise, the larger the company, the higher the compensation.

If you are interested in comparing 2008 salary results with 2007 salary results, view 2007 Salary Results here.

If you have any comments or questions regarding our 2008 survey or results, please don't hesitate to contact Rick Zabel.