Top-Level Data

Below is the top-level data from the 2008-09 survey, which closed at the beginning of May 2008. As always, industry and geographic breakout information will be contained in the full report, published in early August.

This year, the Salary Budget Survey received 2,479 submissions from the United States and 250 from Canada. Survey participants receive a complimentary copy and do not need to purchase the full report.
United States Skip to Canadian Data>>

Total Salary Budget Increases, by Employee Category

  Actual
2007		 Projected
2008		 Actual
2008		 Projected
2009
Nonexempt Hourly Nonunion 3.8% 3.8% 3.8% 3.8%
Nonexempt Salaried 3.8% 3.8% 3.8% 3.8%
Exempt Salaried 3.9% 3.9% 3.9% 3.9%
Officers/Executives 4.1% 4.0% 4.0% 4.0%

Total Salary Budget Increases,
by State		 Total Salary Budget Increases,
by Major Metropolitan Area
  Actual 2008 Projected 2009
Alabama 3.8% 3.8%
Alaska 3.7% 3.8%
Arizona 3.8% 3.9%
Arkansas 3.7% 3.7%
California 3.9% 3.9%
Colorado 3.9% 3.9%
Connecticut 3.9% 3.9%
Delaware 3.7% 3.8%
Florida 3.8% 3.8%
Georgia 3.8% 3.8%
Hawaii 3.8% 3.8%
Idaho 3.7% 3.8%
Illinois 3.8% 3.8%
Indiana 3.6% 3.7%
Iowa 3.8% 3.9%
Kansas 3.8% 3.8%
Kentucky 3.7% 3.8%
Louisiana 3.9% 3.9%
Maine 3.8% 3.9%
Maryland 3.8% 3.8%
Massachusetts 3.8% 3.9%
Michigan 3.7% 3.8%
Minnesota 3.7% 3.8%
Mississippi 3.8% 3.8%
Missouri 3.8% 3.8%
Montana 3.7% 3.8%
Nebraska 3.8% 3.8%
Nevada 3.8% 3.8%
New Hampshire 3.7% 3.8%
New Jersey 3.8% 3.8%
New Mexico 3.9% 3.9%
New York 3.9% 3.8%
North Carolina 3.7% 3.7%
North Dakota 3.9% 4.0%
Ohio 3.8% 3.8%
Oklahoma 3.8% 3.8%
Oregon 3.8% 3.8%
Pennsylvania 3.8% 3.9%
Rhode Island 3.7% 3.8%
South Carolina 3.7% 3.7%
South Dakota 3.8% 3.9%
Tennessee 3.7% 3.7%
Texas 3.9% 4.0%
Utah 3.8% 3.8%
Vermont 3.8% 3.8%
Virginia 3.8% 3.9%
Washington 3.8% 3.9%
Washington, D.C. 4.0% 3.9%
West Virginia 3.7% 3.8%
Wisconsin 3.8% 3.8%
Wyoming 3.9% 3.9%
  Actual 2008 Projected 2009
Atlanta 3.8% 3.8%
Baltimore 3.8% 3.8%
Boston 3.9% 3.9%
Chicago 3.8% 3.8%
Cincinnati 3.7% 3.8%
Cleveland 3.8% 3.8%
Dallas 3.8% 3.8%
Denver 3.9% 3.9%
Detroit 3.7% 3.8%
Houston 3.9% 3.9%
Los Angeles 3.8% 3.9%
Miami 3.8% 3.8%
Minneapolis 3.7% 3.7%
New York 3.8% 3.8%
Philadelphia 3.8% 3.9%
Phoenix 3.8% 3.8%
Pittsburgh 3.7% 3.8%
Portland 3.8% 3.8%
San Diego 3.8% 3.9%
San Francisco 3.9% 3.9%
San Jose 3.8% 3.8%
Seattle 3.8% 3.8%
St. Louis 3.7% 3.8%
Tampa 3.8% 3.8%
Washington, D.C. 4.0% 3.9%

Merit Increases Awarded, by Performance Category

 
  High Performers Middle Performers Low Performers Receiving a Merit Increase Low Performers Receiving No Merit Increase
Percentage of employees rated in this category for 2007 23.6% 66.1% 7.7% 2.6%
Average merit increase awarded to this 2007 performance category 5.2% 3.6% 2.1% –
Percentage of employees estimated to be rated in this category for 2008 22.5% 66.5% 8.1% 2.9%
Average merit increase estimated for this 2008 performance category 5.3% 3.6% 2.0% –

Salary Structure Increases, by Employee Category

  Actual
2007		 Projected
2008		 Actual
2008		 Projected
2009
Nonexempt Hourly Nonunion 2.5% 2.6% 2.5% 2.6%
Nonexempt Salaried 2.6% 2.7% 2.5% 2.7%
Exempt Salaried 2.6% 2.7% 2.5% 2.7%
Officers/Executives 2.6% 2.8% 2.6% 2.8%

Variable Pay Programs, by Employee Category

 
  Nonexempt Hourly Nonunion Nonexempt Salaried Exempt Salaried Officers/
Executives
2007
2007 average % budgeted 5.2% 5.7% 12.1% 34.2%
2007 average % paid 5.3% 6.1% 12.6% 37.0%
% of employees eligible in 2007 for variable pay 90% 92% 82% 96%
% of eligible employees actually paid variable pay for 2007 83% 86% 84% 93%
2008
2008 average % budgeted 5.2% 5.7% 12.2% 34.1%
2008 projected % paid 5.2% 6.0% 12.8% 35.5%

2009
2009 projected % budgeted 5.2% 5.7% 12.2% 34.2%

 

 

Canada Return to U.S. Data>>

Total Salary Budget Increases, by Employee Category

  Actual
2007		 Projected
2008		 Actual
2008		 Projected
2009
Nonmanagement Hourly Nonunion 3.6% 3.7% 3.8% 3.7%
Nonmanagement Salaried 4.0% 3.9% 3.8% 3.9%
Management Salaried 4.0% 3.9% 3.9% 3.9%
Officers/Executives 4.1% 4.1% 3.9% 4.0%

Total Salary Budget Increases, by Major Metropolitan Area

  Actual
2008		 Projected 2009
Calgary 4.0% 3.9%
Edmonton 4.0% 3.9%
Vancouver 3.8% 3.8%
Winnipeg 3.9% 3.8%
Hamilton 3.8% 3.9%
Ottawa 3.8% 3.8%
Toronto 3.7% 3.7%
Montreal 3.6% 3.6%
Quebec 3.6% 3.5%

Merit Increases Awarded, by Performance Category

 
  High Performers Middle Performers Low Performers Receiving a Merit Increase Low Performers Receiving No Merit Increase
Percentage of employees rated in this category for 2007 21.4% 68.3% 7.7% 2.7%
Average merit increase awarded to this 2007 performance category 5.2% 3.8% 2.0% –
Percentage of employees estimated to be rated in this category for 2008 19.5% 69.8% 7.6% 3.1%
Average merit increase estimated for this 2008 performance category 5.2% 4.0% 2.0% –

 

Salary Structure Increases, by Employee Category

  Actual
2007		 Projected
2008		 Actual
2008		 Projected
2009
Nonmanagement Hourly Nonunion 2.4% 2.4% 2.7% 2.4%
Nonmanagement Salaried 2.4% 2.6% 2.5% 2.5%
Management Salaried 2.4% 2.6% 2.6% 2.6%
Officers/Executives 2.5% 2.6% 2.5% 2.5%

Variable Pay Programs, by Employee Category

 
  Nonmanagement Hourly Nonunion Nonmanagement Salaried Management Salaried Officers/ Executives
2007
2007 average % budgeted 5.4% 7.7% 14.8% 32.0%
2007 average % paid 6.0% 8.7% 16.9% 38.9%
% of employees eligible in 2007 for variable pay 93% 92% 94% 96%
% of eligible employees actually paid variable pay for 2007 88% 89% 92% 94%

2008
2008 average % budgeted 5.9% 8.1% 15.1% 32.0%
2008 projected % paid 5.6% 8.6% 16.8% 37.4%

2009
2009 projected % budgeted 5.9% 8.2% 15.5% 34.2%

Please direct any questions or comments to surveypanel@worldatwork.org.