2013 IW Salary Survey: Readers Comment on Pay, Talent Crisis

Manufacturing Compensation -- The Ugly and the Sweet

IndustryWeek subscribers share their stories of manufacturing pay. Here is a cross-section of both the good and the bad.

"Salary is great, my boss is excellent. I am glad to work for someone who understands my role and allows me the autonomy to get the job done. Manufacturing has been a great career!" – plant/facilities manager in the chemicals industry with 26-plus years of experience and earning $160,000

"A signficant downturn in business this year due to Chinese competition has resulted in no raises and most likely no bonuses." – engineering manager in the plastics and rubber products industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the New England region and earning $155,000

"I am happy with my job that presents challenges daily, and my salary is fine for the area of the country that I live in. My great concern in regards to manufacturing is the continued flow of manufacturing to out-of-the-country sources." – engineering manager in the consumer goods/durables industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the South Central region and earning $90,000

I don't feel manufacturing is properly compensating their veteran salaried employees. It's getting to the point where it is not profitable to the employee to stay with one company. I think going forward, people need to move around through industry to move up on the salary and benefit scale." – manufacturing/production manager in the automotive/transportation vehicles and equipment industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the North Central region and earning $70,000

Where's My Raise?

"No salary increase since '06 due to economy." – quality manager in the industrial machinery industry with 16 to 20 years of experience, living in the South Atlantic region and earning $65,000

"While I feel underpaid, I have great benefits and a very stable company." - plant/facilities manager in the industrial machinery industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the South Central region and earning $86,000

"Have foregone salary/position increase to work for and with a great group." – sales/marketing manager in the aerospace and defense industry with 21 to 25 years of experience, living in the Mountain region and earning $105,000

"Federal taxes go up, state and local taxes go up, while state and local fees are created as a hidden tax. My salary goes down. Losing ground every year. Never get raises that equal cost of living." – engineering manager in the medical devices/lab equipment industry with 21 to 25 years of experience, living in the Middle Atlantic region and earning $86,000

"I truly love working for my company from a total satisfaction perspective. I continue to worry about the state of manufacturing's treatment by the U.S. regulators and the global economy overall." – VP of operations in the construction/building equipment industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the North Central region and earning $230,000

"The volatility of the job market makes negotiating salary a slippery slope even with outstanding job performance." – supply chain/logistics manager in the construction/building equipment industry with six to 10 years of experience, living in the Pacific region and earning $86,329

In Search of Talent

How concerned are manufacturers about developing and recruiting quality employees in manufacturing? Here's what they say:

"The challenge of finding and keeping high-quality employees has become more demanding and consumes large blocks of time. Salaries don't reflect the importance of a good manager in this area." – quality manager in the food and beverage industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the South Atlantic region and earning $85,000

"We need for schools to promote manufacturing as a career!" – manufacturing manager in the aerospace industry with 21 to 25 years of experience, living in the South Central region and earning $108,000

"Truly enjoy working as an operations manager in the manufacturing industry, and it continues to be a challenge on a weekly basis, but it's becoming difficult to find young talent that wants to work, learn and grow in the manufacturing sector." – operations manager in the metals industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the North Central region and earning $85,000

"The state of the manufacturing industry is a lack of skilled personnel and people not wanting to really work, learn and be efficient and effective." – corporate executive in the industrial machinery industry with 26 years of experience, living in the South Central region and earning $75,000

"We need to better promote the benefits of a manufacturing career." - corporate executive in the metals industry with 16 to 20 years of experience and earning $270,000