2017 A/E Staff Compensation Benchmark Survey Report
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Background
Three Very Important Concepts to Remember
Compensation
Time Charges by Staff
Staff Billing Rates
Comparison with Previous Survey Results
Putting This Survey to Work in Your Firm
Setting High Goals
Using This Survey
Part l: General Survey Results
Base Salary
Bonuses
Compensation-FAR Basis
Bonus as a Percentage of Total Compensation
Percentage Receiving Bonuses
Total Direct Compensation Salary in Relation to CEO
Bonus in Relation to CEO
Total Direct Compensation
Total Direct Compensation in Relation to CEO
Billing Rates per Hour
Salary Increases Awarded Last Year (during 2016)
Retirement Contributions
Time Charged to Projects
Time Charged to Marketing/Business Development
Overtime
Number of Days of Paid Time Off (PTO)
Number of Vacation Days
Number of Days of Sick Leave
Total Days of Leave
Professional Licensure
Percentage of Firm Owned
Section Summary
Historical Trends & Inflation Indices
Base Salary Trends
Bonus Trends
Total Direct Compensation Trends
Bonus as Percentage of Salary Trends
Billing Rate Trends
Salary in Relation to CEO Trends
Inflation Indices
Note for Future Editions
Using Inflation Indices
Government Economic Indices
Section Summary
Part ll: Position Profiles
Each profile contains all of the metrics listed in the General Survey Results Section above
Architect: Entry Level
Architect: 2-5 Years of Experience
Architect: 6-9 Years of Experience
Architect: 10-14 Years of Experience
Architect: 15-19 Years of Experience
Architect: 20+ Years of Experience
Civil Engineer/Designer: Entry Level
Civil Engineer/Designer: 2-5 Years of Experience
Civil Engineer/Designer: 6-9 Years of Experience
Civil Engineer/Designer: 10-14 Years of Experience
Civil Engineer/Designer: 15-19 Years of Experience
Civil Engineer/Designer: 20+ Years of Experience
Electrical Engineer/Designer: Entry Level
Electrical Engineer/Designer: 2-5 Years of Experience
Electrical Engineer/Designer: 6-9 Years of Experience
Electrical Engineer/Designer: 10-14 Years of Experience
Electrical Engineer/Designer: 15-19 Years of Experience
Electrical Engineer/Designer: 20+ Years of Experience
Mechanical Engineer/Designer: Entry Level
Mechanical Engineer/Designer: 2-5 Years of Experience
Mechanical Engineer/Designer: 6-9 Years of Experience
Mechanical Engineer/Designer: 10-14 Years of Experience
Mechanical Engineer/Designer: 15-19 Years of Experience
Mechanical Engineer/Designer: 20+ Years of Experience
Structural Engineer/Designer: Entry Level
Structural Engineer/Designer: 2-5 Years of Experience
Structural Engineer/Designer: 6-9 Years of Experience
Structural Engineer/Designer: 10-14 Years of Experience
Structural Engineer/Designer: 15-19 Years of Experience
Structural Engineer/Designer: 20+ Years of Experience
Environmental Engineer: Entry Level
Environmental Engineer: 2-5 Years of Experience
Environmental Engineer: 6-9 Years of Experience
Environmental Engineer: 10-14 Years of Experience
Environmental Engineer: 15-19 Years of Experience
Environmental Engineer: 20+ Years of Experience
Landscape Architect: Entry Level
Landscape Architect: 2-5 Years of Experience
Landscape Architect: 6-9 Years of Experience
Landscape Architect: 10-14 Years of Experience
Landscape Architect: 15-19 Years of Experience
Landscape Architect: 20+ Years of Experience
Senior BIM Technician/Drafter
BIM Technician/Drafter
Senior CADD Technician/Drafter
CADD Technician/Drafter
Marketing Coordinator
Proposal Coordinator
Appendices
Appendix A: The Survey Database
The Role of the Advisory Board
The Sample
Some Cautions
Appendix B: The Questionnaire
Appendix C: How to Use This Survey
Information Provided
Performing Your Benchmarking Analysis
The Changing Markets for Design Labor
Some Driving Factors Affecting Compensation
Internal Benchmarking Against the CEO’s Data
What to Do With Your Analysis
Appendix D: Other Sources for Reference
Appendix E: Index