The typical plant manager who responded to the survey is 47.5 years old, and has more than 20 years of industry experience. He or she has been with the current employer for 13.5 years and in the current job for almost nine years, supervising an average of about 27.3 people, the survey found. Women are a minority at 6 percent of the respondents.
Plant managers who responded to the 2008 survey said they work for a wide variety of companies in terms of size. Thirty-one percent are with firms of 11 to 50 employees, while 30 percent work at large companies employing more than 500.
Seventy-one percent of the respondents are with lubricant blenders, and 29 percent work for lubricant distributors. That compares to a mix of 56 percent lubricant blenders and 44 percent lube distributors among respondents to the 2006 survey.
Average pay of plant managers who work for lube manufacturers was $124,548 this year, while the average in 2006 was $99,672. The median compensation was $120,000 in 2008; it was $100,000 in 2006 and $85,000 in 2004.
Meanwhile, plant managers for lube distributors reported an average annual compensation of $77,400 in 2008, compared to $68,509 in 2006. The median compensation at lube distributors was $71,250 in 2008; it was $65,000 in 2006 and $70,359 in 2004.
Other highlights from the survey, released in the magazines October issue, follow:
- The highest-paid respondent reported an annual compensation of $310,000, while the lowest-paid respondent made $36,000 per year.
- Plant managers from the Northeastern states reported the highest average salaries, at $147,700.
- Seventy-six percent of plant managers said theyd received a raise in the prior 12 months, compared to 70 percent in 2006 and 66.3 percent in 2004.
This is the sixth time LubesnGreaseshas directly surveyed key lubricants industry employees about their compensation. The 2008 survey, conducted in July and August, drew 422 responses from individuals, including 70 who identified themselves as plant and operations managers at lube manufacturers or distributors. Information came directly from individuals who work for lubricant manufacturers and distributors, and was compiled and analyzed by an independent statistical research firm.
LubesnGreases early next month will feature highlights of the survey of sales and marketing executives compensation, and in early December will showcase results from the survey of laboratory and R&D managers.
LubesnGreases 2008 Lubricants Industry Salary Survey looks at how compensation varies by type and size of company, geographic region, length of time in the job, and number of people supervised.
The complete detailed 2008 salary survey report will be available in late November for $75 per copy from LNG Publishing Co. Visit http://www.LNGpublishing.com for more information.