How much are you worth?

If you're making more than $72,000 annually, then you're doing better than most.

By -- Modern Materials Handling, 7/1/2000

So, what does a good materials handling expert go for these days? How about a distribution manager? Most importantly, how does your salary stack up to those of your peers?

Until now, it was tough to answer any of those questions unless you did your own private poll. But this spring, Modern Materials Handling surveyed its readers by both mail and telephone to give you a nationwide look at how much your peers are being paid as well as several other measures of you and your job.

The average (mean) salary of respondents is nearly $72,000, with a median of $62,000. The highest salary reported was $250,000. Almost two-thirds say they make at least $50,000 annually.

Most also report that they received their latest salary increase within the past year, with a large number getting their pay raised at the beginning of each calendar year. While the average raise was over 5% due to a number of hefty increases that slightly tipped the scale, most were in the 3-4% range.

As the materials handling industry has grown dramatically in the past 50 years, so has its ability to attract professionals. More than half say they have some college education, with many possessing advanced degrees in either engineering or business administration.

The industry has also done well at retaining these professionals. The average respondent has almost 20 years of experience in manufacturing, warehousing, or distribution. Most have additionally been with their current company for the past decade or more.

One reason, besides good pay, that may encourage respondents to stay with their companies is an apparent opportunity for advancement. Nearly 30% have been in their current job for less than 2 years, while another one-third have been in their position for 3 to 5 years. Clearly, these people are using materials handling experience as a way to move to new jobs within their companies.

Age and gender were also asked of respondents. While people of all ages are employed in the industry, the average worker is about 45 years old. Anyone who has worked in the industry even briefly can readily report that a huge gender gap also exists. Men outnumber women about 19 to 1.

From the trenches

So, what is it you do? Most responded that they are engineers, warehouse managers, operational managers, or general managers. Others are involved in materials purchasing or information systems, while still more manage logistics or the supply chain for their companies.

The survey also asked what each feels is the primary function of their job. Most fall into two camps - either manufacturing and production, or warehousing and distribution. About 11% consider themselves general managers, while others point out specific management duties involving materials handling, information technology, the supply chain, or plant management.

As with any job, there are things we like that keeps us coming back each day, and other duties that make us count the days to retirement. Respondents were asked about their work likes and dislikes.

Many mentioned the positive challenges of the job, and the fact that everyday brings something new. Others indicated that they like to work with the people around them, and feel satisfaction with their accomplishments, the pay, or the freedom they feel in their work.

Like any industry, there are also drawbacks. Long hours were often cited as least-liked aspects of their jobs, as well as business politics, paperwork, and corporate attitudes. On a positive note, many said there really wasn't anything that they could cite as being a downside to their profession.

With that in mind, it is also interesting to note that an even split occurred when the survey asked whether respondents would recommend the materials handling field to a college grad. The result was 50-50.

Well, there you have it. Armed with this information, one only wonders how many MMH readers will be asking for a pay raise this week.