Help is wanted, and the pay is good. That's according to a national salary survey recently conducted by MEP Jobs, an online job board serving the mechanical, electrical and plumbing industries. The 2008 Skilled Trades Salary Survey gathered feedback from more than 2,000 HVAC, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and facilities professionals between May and June of 2008. The survey provides positive information on a market sector that has received much negative press over the past year.

The survey - the first installment of an annual examination of the industry - looked at salaries and hiring trends and found some surprisingly positive indicators.


The Survey Premise
Reliable information about industry wages in the trade sector has not previously been readily available. Both job seekers and employers have long south title-specific wage information. MEP Jobs responded to the need by conducting a comprehensive and detailed look at salaries and wages in the skilled trades sector.


Surprising Results
Although there have been well-reported drops in employment, the MEP Jobs survey results indicate skilled trades and related professions, such as facilities, are in good shape. Data supporting staff increases, above-national-average salaries and new job openings give an alternative view of the industry.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the per capita income in the United States for 2007 was $38,611. In contrast, the MEP Jobs Skilled Trades Survey showed an annual income in the mechanical, engineering and plumbing sectors of $52,000, nearly a $14,000 upswing for professionals choosing a skilled-trades career path. Management and engineering positions helped bring that average salary up. However, entry-level positions posted an average annual salary of $35,360.

Additionally, the survey found that almost 2/3rd (60 percent) of employers forecast an increase in staffing for the next year.


Mostly Sunny from West to East Coasts
Los Angeles can boast of more than just well-paid celebrities. The city topped the survey as the best paying metro area with the average skilled trades professional earning $66,560 a year. The state of California is an average of 20 percent above the national average and rewards those new to the field with an average compensation of $54,750.

New York was just barely nudged out of the first spot with an average salary of nearly $65,000. Those with less than five years experience were still bringing in around $50,000.

Washington D.C. and Texas were close behind with annual salaries of $62,400 and $55,000 respectively. The Sunshine State fared better in the metro areas of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, but dropped to nearly $48,000 in the outer-lying cities.

The Midwest cities of St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis hovered around 5 percent above the national average, while Georgia sat just below with an average salary of $50,000.


Which Sector Shows Us the Money?
As far was which industries are paying the most within the field, the answer varies drastically by region. Except for LA, facilities are a safe bet overall.

According to the survey, an HVAC installer starts at $37,000, whereas an entry-level plumber makes an average of $48,000. The lowest-paid position in the facilities field is reportedly a building technician, and in the electrical field, an electrical service technician makes $45,047. Both still beat the national income average by more than $7,000.


Something to Work Toward
As with any industry, the top-paying salaries in the mechanical industry are awarded to the people managing people and projects. General managers earn a healthy $87,500 on an annual basis - the highest average in all sectors and regions.

A close second are sales engineers at $85,000 a year, and operations managers at $75,000. Mechanical engineers in the HVAC sector earn $72,000, and electrical construction superintendents garner $66,560. Plumbing project managers bring in $72,000, with facility managers close behind at $70,000.


What Unemployment?
The MEP Jobs salary survey results show that employees in the trade fields are well compensated. It also demonstrates the potential for job openings.

Sixty percent of survey respondents said they are looking to add staff for the next year. With fewer skilled workers entering a workforce soon to suffer a mass exodus of baby boomers, these employers need to find ways to attract young employees. The above-average salary results are one way to make young generations look a bit closer at the skilled trades.


Hey, Gen Y, Look Over Here!
Younger generations carry with them the misconception that the mechanical industries do not pay well. In addition, they are a generation of instant gratification, wanting higher starting salaries than their older counterparts.

The MEP Jobs' survey - revealing healthy, above-average starting wages - indicates a perfect match between the young work force and the mechanical industries. The survey, when paired with job shadowing, updated training and new technologies, has the potential to change perceptions and interest more young people in this segment of the workforce.


Reassurance in the Industry
The MEP Jobs survey data suggests that although the residential construction market has suffered a downturn, the skilled trades sector - including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and facilities professionals - continue to do well by migrating to healthier parts of the economy. For example, the commercial, municipal, and industrial sectors continue to grow at a healthy rate.

In a time of economic uncertainty, the MEP Jobs salary survey can help both employers and job seekers validate the strength and potential of the skilled trades employment sector. The survey also provides useful data for HR professionals in determining baseline compensation for these types of positions.


Jeff Dickey-Chasins is the Vice President of Marketing for MEP Job, located in Urbandale, Iowa. He may be contacted at jeffdc@mepjobs.com.