Introduction 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.
Typical Survey Respondent
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%)
Average Salary by Job Function 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%
Average Salary by Industry 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
Average Salary by Years of Work Experience 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%
Average Salary by Company Tenure 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%
Average Salary by Highest Level of Education 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%
Average Salary by Bachelor Degree Received 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%
Average Salary by Advanced Degree Received 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%
Average Salary by Gender 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%
Average Salary by Employment Type 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%
Average Salary by US Geographic Region 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%
Average Salary by Company or Division Size 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%
Breakdown of Respondents by Annual Gross Income
Breakdown of Respondents by Annual Gross Income as Commissions and/or Bonuses
Breakdown of Respondents by Increase in Compensation Over 1 Year
Breakdown of Respondents by Job Function
Breakdown of Respondents by Years of Work Experience
Breakdown of Respondents by Education
Breakdown of Respondents by Degree Received
Breakdown of Respondents by Primary Business or Industry
Breakdown of Respondents by Age
Breakdown of Respondents by Job Satisfaction
Breakdown of Respondents by Weeks of Vacation per Year
Breakdown of Respondents by Years with Present Employer
Breakdown of responses for most important factors contributing to job satisfaction (Respondents were asked to choose top 3)
Breakdown of responses for most important benefits in your present job (Respondents were asked to choose the top 3)
Interesting Observations
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.
.png)
.png)