Human Resources: 2009/2010 Survey Report on Technician & Skilled Trades Personnel Compensation

ROCHELLE PARK, N.J., (May 19, 2009) - Watson Wyatt Data Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Watson Wyatt Worldwide, today announced the publication of its 2009/2010 Survey Report on Technician & Skilled Trades Personnel Compensation.
The data contained in this reference is based on the responses of 801 organizations encompassing 6,631 locations reporting data on 395,116 incumbents. Data are based on a total of 206 geographic areas and 116 industry classifications.

Compensation Increases
Organizations providing data to both the 2008/2009 and the 2009/2010 surveys increased salary and total cash compensation an average of 3.1 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively.

Incumbents in the Transportation function experienced the highest average salary increase at 4.4 percent and tied with incumbents in the Field Services function for the highest average total cash compensation increase at 5.2 percent. At the opposite end of the spectrum, technicians and skilled trades personnel in the e-Commerce function received the lowest average increase to salary at 1 percent and the lowest average increase to total cash compensation at 1.3 percent, along with incumbents in the Energy function.

There were only slight variations among industry sectors in regard to increases to salaries and total cash compensation. The highest increases to salaries, 3.3 percent, were reported in the Services Sector and the Utilities and Energy Sector while the lowest increase, 2.5 percent, was reported in the Banking and Finance Sector. The highest increase to total cash compensation was reported in the Durable Goods Manufacturing Sector at 3.8 percent while the lowest increase to total cash compensation was reported in the Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing Sector at 2.5 percent.

There were only slight differences in increases to salaries and total cash compensation by region. The highest average increase to salary was reported in the Southeast and North Central regions at 3.2 percent. Meanwhile, technicians and skilled trades personnel from the South Central Region received the lowest average increase to salary at 3 percent. The average increase to total cash compensation ranged from a high of 3.8 percent for technicians and skilled trades personnel in the Southeast Region to a low of 3.1 percent for incumbents in the West Coast Region.

Within the entire sample combined, 13 positions received salary and/or total cash compensation increases that exceeded the overall average salary/total cash compensation increases by at least 25 percent. Four positions in the overall sample received increases to total cash compensation of at least six percent, as listed below:

*       Field Service Representative - Electro/Mechanical Equipment
*       Industrial Designer
*       Truck Driver - Heavy
*       Truck Driver - Tractor Trailer

Within organizations providing data to both the 2008/2009 and the 2009/2010 surveys, the average percentage of employees receiving a bonus and/or other cash compensation payment increased to 45.6 percent.

Bonus/Variable Pay Program Trends

Bonus and/or other cash compensation payments averaged 4.3 percent for all salary levels combined. The percentage of employees receiving a short-term incentive varied significantly among salary levels, ranging from a high of 44.9 percent for those earning $50,000 or more to a low of 24.9 percent for those earning less than $30,000.

The percentage of technicians and skilled trades personnel receiving a bonus and/or other cash compensation varied significantly among the industry sectors reported. The average percentage of employees receiving a bonus and/or other cash compensation ranged from a high of 74.4 percent in the Insurance Sector to a low of 8 percent in the Health Care Sector. While the range is not as wide in the average amount of bonus and/or other cash compensation paid there is still a substantial difference between industry sectors. Technicians and skilled trades personnel in the Utilities and Energy Sector received an average payment of 8.7 percent while the incumbents in the Health Care Sector received only 2.2 percent.

There were only slight regional differences with regard to bonus and/or other cash compensation. Technicians and skilled trades personnel in the Southeast Region had both the highest percentage of incumbents receiving a short-term incentive, at 40.7 percent, and the highest average bonus and/or other cash compensation payment of 4.8 percent of salary. On the low end, the lowest percentage of employees receiving a short-term incentive occurred in the South Central Region at 32.5 percent, while the lowest average, 3.5 percent of salary, was paid to employees in the West Coast Region.

The 2009/2010 Survey Report on Technician & Skilled Trades Personnel Compensation is available online, or as an online/printed report set.

About Watson Wyatt Data Services
Watson Wyatt Data Services (WWDS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Watson Wyatt Worldwide (ranked 980 on CNN Money's FORTUNE 1000 list of top companies for 2009), is a leading provider of compensation, benefits and employment practices information to the global employer community. From offices around the world, we solicit, analyze and publish an extensive library of printed, interactive and online survey reports. Our compensation databases are recognized worldwide as the most reliable source of current data for compensation planning.

Global scope, local knowledge ...
Covering 97 countries across six continents, our data centers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America annually compile reports on the remuneration, benefits and employment practices of local and multinational companies. Our "in-country" experts apply their local knowledge of the varied employment markets, practices and customs to deliver a complete compensation picture that can be used to create sound, market-based pay programs for entire institutions. Our international databases contain compensation information covering millions of employees based on the annual survey participation of organizations ranging from emerging growth companies to many of the world's largest conglomerates.

In addition to compensation surveys, WWDS also publishes references that help HR practitioners attract, retain and reward exceptional employees. These guides cover a wide variety of subject areas, including variable pay, performance management and personnel policies on a local, regional and global basis. For more information, visit our Web site at WWDS.com.