Consulting Engineering/Land Surveying Firm Income From $14,000 - $1,000,000+

Compensation in Consulting Engineering and Land Surveying Firms, 9th Edition - 2003

PUBLISHED: March 2003

Summary of the 1,500-page Compensation in Consulting Engineering and Land Surveying Firms survey report of 178 benchmark jobs from Abbott, Langer & Associates, Inc.  The following describes the  highest and lowest paid job characteristics, the national median total cash compensation for 19 benchmark jobs, and the factors affecting salary (Geographic Area, Type of Service Provided by Employer, Annual Fees, Number of Employees, Type of Work Performed, Experience, Education, Experience Versus Education, and Managerial/Supervisory Responsibility):

The following is preliminary information on the survey report; the more extensive summary described above will be available here one month after it has been mailed to participating organizations of this survey.

The composite highest-income practitioner in this field (salary plus cash bonus and/or cash profit sharing) is the President "A" (defined as a chief executive officer who is the owner of, a full partner in, or a major stockholder in the firm) of a consulting engineering firm. The firm provides services in geotechnical, civil (general, structural, and/or land development), highway/traffic/transportation, or mechanical engineering; receives in excess of $5,000,000 in gross annual fees for services rendered; has 25 or more employees; and is headquartered in or near Oakland/East Bay, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Marin/Sonoma Counties (CA), Orlando, Salt Lake City/Ogden/Provo, Jackson (MS), Milwaukee, New York City - Five Boroughs, San Jose, or Orange County (CA). This individual has a BS in engineering or higher, and 30 or more years of experience. While the median President "A" has a total annual income of $115,000, the highest-income individuals reported in this group make over $1,000,000.

Far toward the other end of the income spectrum, Field Technicians have a median income of $22,610. Sometimes earning as little as $14,000, the lowest-paid employees in this group usually are located in or near Austin, Colorado Springs, Denver/Boulder, Atlanta, McAllen/Pharr/Edinburg, Tulsa, or Dallas/Ft. Worth, or outside metropolitan areas studied in Indiana; work for firms providing services in geotechnican engineering or surveying; have under three years of experience; and have little or no college training.

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 321 consulting engineering and land surveying firms on more than 12,900 employees. The end results of the survey appear in Compensation in Consulting Engineering and Land Surveying Firms, Ninth Edition - 2003, a 1,500-page statistical analysis of compensation in this field. Copies of this four-volume report (Volume 1 - supervisory & managerial jobs; Volume 2 - non- supervisory engineers & scientists; Volume 3 - CADD/design/drafting jobs; and Volume 4 - laboratory/surveying/technician jobs) are available for $1,200.00 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).  The volumes can be purchased separately for $495.00 for either Volume 1 or Volume 2, $395.00 for either Volume 3 or Volume 4.

It would be an exercise in futility to attempt more than a superficial overview of the survey results in this summary. However, some overall data regarding compensation can be presented herein, and some comments can be made.

In addition to the incomes of the benchmark jobs already discussed, the median total cash compensation nationally of some of the other 176 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.

the 1,500-page, four-volume survey report, Compensation in Consulting Engineering and Land Surveying Firms, 9th Edition - 2003 described on this page for $1,200, 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 consulting