Though nearly three-quarters of in-plant managers say the COVID-19 pandemic had no impact on their salaries, the data in our new salary survey implies otherwise. Bucking the trend of 4-10% growth every two years since 2013, average salaries remained virtually stagnant in 2021 compared with 2019, climbing just a paltry 0.3%. The median salary dropped for the first time since 2011, shrinking 2.3%.
Fewer managers received raises last year, as well. Overall, 77% got a 2021 pay increase, while in 2019, 86% of respondents got a raise. It was encouraging to see that more than a third (35%) of in-plant managers like their jobs and would not consider higher-paying offers elsewhere. The top paying industries for in-plant managers are manufacturing, utilities, and insurance, which each paid their managers more than $97,000 per year.
Our 2021 salary survey will give you a good basis for comparison when it comes time to talk about your next raise. Download the report here.
Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 180 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.