KC Hall

Kansas City, Kan.— Modest improvements in the economy are starting to become more evident as salaries for many jobs in manufacturing and distribution slowly continue to creep upwards. The 2011 Compensation Data Manufacturing & Distribution survey results found shipping and receiving clerks are earning an average of $31,800 per year. That's a 1.9 percent increase since 2010.

Production scheduler salaries have gone up nearly two percent since 2010 to $46,500 per year, while forklift operators, production workers and packers have seen increases of less than one percent over the past year. The pay for tool and die makers has remained steady since 2010 at $47,300. Warehouse managers saw above average salary increases of 3.3 percent over the last year, earning them $69,600 in 2011. Conversely, the salary for quality assurance managers went from $81,900 in 2010 to $80,700 in 2011, representing a slight decrease of 1.5 percent.

"The road to recovery has been a slow one, so it's no surprise employers are taking a conservative approach when making increases to compensation," said Amy Kaminski, director of marketing for Compdata Surveys, the nation's leading pay and benefits survey data provider. "Until economic improvements attain footing on solid ground, we can expect salary increases for most jobs to be modest at best."

Salaries can often vary by region as manufacturing managers in the Southeast earn an average of $94,500 per year. Companies in the West pay manufacturing managers $89,900, compared to organizations in the South Central region of the country, $86,100. Manufacturing managers in the Northeast are paid an average of $84,600 per year. Those in the Midwest are paid the least, $81,600, which is 15.8 percent less than their counterparts in the Southeast.

About the Survey
Compensation Data 2011 Manufacturing & Distribution surveyed more than 100 industry-specific job titles and 350 benchmark titles ranging from entry-level to top executives. Data was collected from nearly 1,100 manufacturing and distribution employers reporting on more than 9,500 locations across the country. The results provide a comprehensive summary of pay data, benefit information and pay practices with an effective date of February 1, 2011.

Compdata Surveys is the nation's leading compensation and benefits survey data provider. Thousands of U.S. organizations provide data each year ensuring the reliability of our results. Compdata Surveys has been providing comprehensive data at affordable prices to organizations from coast to coast since 1988. For further information about their compensation and benefit surveys, contact Michelle Willis at (800) 300-9570.

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