Compensation in Ground Water Science and Engineering Organizations, 4th Edition - 2003

PUBLISHED: February 2003

Summary of the 200-page Compensation in Ground Water Science and Engineering Organizations, 4th Edition - 2003 survey report of 27 benchmark jobs from Abbott, Langer & Associates, Inc.  The following describes the highest and lowest paid job characteristics, the national median total cash compensation for 14 benchmark jobs, and factors affecting compensation (Geographic Area, Type of Organization, Type of Service Provided by Employer, Annual Fees, Number of Employees, Type of Work Performed/Supervised/Directed, Experience, Education, and Experience Versus Education):

The composite highest-income practitioner in this field (salary plus cash bonus and/or cash profit sharing) in the President of a consulting firm providing engineering and/or geologic/hydrogeologic services in environmental regulation and/or assessment, or in the geological field. The firm receives at least $500,000 and possibly in excess of $25 million in gross annual fees for services rendered; and is headquartered in Los Angeles/Long Beach/San Diego, Texas, New York City, Chicago, Denver/Boulder/Colorado Springs/Pueblo, or the northeastern states (excluding Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia). This individual has at least a college degree and may have attained as much as a Ph.D. in engineering, and at least 10 years of experience. While the median President "A" has a total annual income of $81,631, the highest-income individuals reported in this group make well over $700,000.

tell a colleague, your manager, or your HR department about this

Far toward the other end of the income spectrum, Field Technicians have a median income of $23,400. Sometimes earning under $15,000, the lowest-paid employees in this group usually are located in Texas, Philadelphia, or the northeastern states; work for consulting firms providing both engineering and geologic/hydrogeologic services, or a well-drilling firm; and have little or no experience or college education.

These composites represent the briefest possible "boil-down" of the voluminous data provided regarding current salaries and cash bonuses and/or profit sharing, and numerous demographic variables provided by 103 organizations in this field regarding over 2,800 employees in 27 benchmark jobs. The end results of the survey, sponsored by the National Ground Water Association, appear in Compensation in Ground Water Science and Engineering Organizations, Fourth Edition - 2003, a 200-page statistical analysis of compensation in this field. Copies of the report are available for $650.00 through our On-Line Order Form or from Abbott, Langer & Associates, Inc., Dept. NET, 548 First St., Crete, IL 60417 (telephone 708/672-4200; fax 708/672-4674).

In addition to the incomes of the benchmark jobs already discussed, the median total cash compensation nationally of some of the other 25 benchmark jobs included in the survey report is:

Naturally, these nation-wide pay rates vary by region, state & metropolitan area, type of services provided and annual fees received by the firm, size of firm, type of work performed/supervised/managed, level of education, length of experience, and supervisory/managerial responsibility involved - all demographic variables for which data are provided in the complete report.

Geographic Area

The median total annual cash compensation for supervisory/managerial personnel is highest in the northeastern and southwestern states and lowest in the north central and southern states, with the midwestern, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific states falling in between. For non-supervisory engineering and scientific jobs, the highest median incomes are found in the north central and Pacific states; the lowest in the northeastern and southern states; with the midwestern, southwestern, and Rocky Mountain states falling in the middle of the range.

Median total annual cash compensation for CADD/designing/drafting jobs is highest in the northeastern and Pacific states and lowest in the southwestern and Rocky Mountain states. The midwestern and southern states fall in the middle of the range. As regards laboratory/land surveying/technician jobs, the median annual income is highest in the Pacific and north central states and lowest in the southwestern and southern states; the Rocky Mountain, northeastern, and midwestern states fall in the middle of the range.

Type of Organization

For supervisory/managerial personnel, compensation is highest in private firms providing both engineering and geologic/hydrogeologic services, while incomes are lowest in well-drilling firms. For non-supervisory engineers and scientists, the highest annual income is found in business & industry, and the lowest in private firms.

Type of Service Provided by Employer

Overall, supervisory/managerial personnel are paid best in firms providing environmental regulation corrective action and permit requirements; firms providing agricultural services pay the lowest compensation. For non-supervisory engineering & scientific jobs, the median annual income is highest in firms providing environmental assessment, while the lowest incomes are found in private firms providing geological services.

Annual Fees

This factor is a good overall indicator of the median total annual cash compensation received by personnel in supervisory/managerial positions, but not in non-supervisory engineering and scientific jobs. Non-supervisory engineers and scientists receive the highest annual compensation in firms receiving $10,000,000 to $24,999,999 in annual fees, while the other groups receive the highest income in firms receiving $2,500,000 to $9,999,999 in annual fees.

Number of Employees

This factor is not a good overall predictor of median total annual cash compensation in the ground water science and engineering field.

Type of Work Performed/Supervised/Directed

For supervisory/managerial personnel, median total annual cash compensation is highest in civil engineering (excluding environmental) and lowest in hydrogeology. For non-supervisory engineering and scientific jobs, it is highest in the engineering field, and lowest in the biological and environmental fields.

For laboratory/land surveying/technician jobs, median total annual cash compensation is highest for drilling operators, and lowest for construction inspection technicians.

Experience

Interestingly enough, this was not a good overall predictor of median total annual cash compensation in ground water science and engineering organizations. However, it is a fair predictor for specific jobs.

Education

This is a major predictor of median total annual cash compensation in ground water science organizations for non-supervisory engineers & scientists and laboratory/surveying/technician jobs.

Experience Versus Education

A combination of experience and education is a better predictor of compensation than either area alone. While dealt with in detail in the report, space does not allow an analysis of the data herein.

the 200-page survey report, Compensation in Ground Water Science and Engineering Organizations, 4th Edition - 2003, described on this page is available to organizations for $650, with charges for shipping & handling (and IL sales tax, if applicable). The report is IN STOCK and can be shipped out within two business days. The mean, median, 1st and 3rd quartile, and 1st and 9th decile data for base salary, bonus/commission/profit sharing, and total annual cash compensation are reported for many demographic variables, including education, experience, geographic location, type and size of employer, etc. To purchase the report, use our On-Line Order Form, call 708/672-4200, email, fax, or write per the information at the bottom of this page.

See other salary and benefits survey reports in engineering

See other salary and benefits survey reports in science