Maintenance Pay Growth Slows in 2005: Only 2.32% Increase

Maintenance employees at American manufacturing plants received a modest 2.32 % pay increase in 2005, the smallest rise since 2002, according to a national compensation survey conducted by Compdata Surveys and compiled for Reliable Plant magazine.

Is Your Pay Competitive?

Benchmark your salary against the 2005 survey. The report breaks down compensation by job title, plant size, and region. Request a free summary by emailing parnold@noria.com with “PAY SURVEY REQUEST” in the subject line.

Compdata Surveys collected data from 2,272 manufacturing firms in Olathe, Kansas, representing 1.38 million U.S. workers, including 20,380 maintenance roles such as:

• Plant engineering manager
• Maintenance manager
• Senior maintenance supervisor
• Maintenance supervisor
• Senior maintenance electrician
• Senior maintenance mechanic
• Maintenance electrician
• Maintenance mechanic

Over the last five years, maintenance salaries grew an average of 4.05 % annually. Year‑to‑year increases were 4.25 % (2000), 6.65 % (2001), 2.12 % (2002), 2.93 % (2003) and 3.09 % (2004). Excluding 2002, the average rise was 4.23 %.

Why the Slow 2005 Growth?

Manufacturers face mounting pension and healthcare costs. Defined‑benefit pensions dropped to 3.9 % of firms, while 54 % now offer defined‑contribution plans (e.g., 401(k), 403(b)). Combined plans are available to 36.6 % of manufacturers.

Healthcare premiums have surged above the industry average. The following table shows the percentage increase for common plan types in 2005:

Manufacturers responded by allocating a 3.35 % average pay budget in 2005. Most maintenance roles received increases close to this figure.

Title‑Specific 2005 Pay Changes

Annual raises varied by title:

• Maintenance electrician – 3.56 %
• Senior maintenance supervisor – 1.17 %
• Maintenance supervisor – 1.18 %
• Plant engineering manager – 2.77 %
• Maintenance manager – 2.25 %

Regional salary leaders: West Region workers earned the highest average salaries in six of eight titles; East Region led for maintenance managers and mechanics.

West Region Average Pay (2005)

East Region averages: maintenance managers $70,734, mechanics $37,075.

Geographic Pay Variation

West Region maintenance workers saw a 3.94 % average increase, compared to 3.16 % (South), 2.04 % (East), and 1.75 % (Central). Geographic differences reflect cost‑of‑living and skill shortages, experts say.

Plant Size Impact

Large plants (>1,000 employees) led in salary for six of eight titles; mid‑size plants (501‑1,000) saw East Region leaders in three categories; smaller plants (<201) often had West Region leaders.

Historical Salary Growth (2000‑2005)

Top 5 and Bottom 5 Pay Moves (2005)

Top performers:

1. Senior maintenance supervisor, West, 101‑200 employees – 24.86 % increase
2. Senior maintenance mechanic, South, 201‑500 employees – 16.21 %
3. Plant engineering manager, South, 101‑200 employees – 14.84 %
4. Maintenance mechanic, West, <100 employees – 13.73 %
5. Senior maintenance mechanic, East, <100 employees – 12.69 %

Lowest performers:

1. Maintenance supervisor, Central, <100 employees – 5.95 % decrease
2. Senior maintenance mechanic, Central, 101‑200 employees – 5.48 % decrease
3. Senior maintenance electrician, Central, 501‑1,000 employees – 4.63 % decrease
4. Senior maintenance supervisor, Central, 101‑200 employees – 4.61 % decrease
5. Senior maintenance electrician, South, >1,000 employees – 4.44 % decrease

Get the Full Report

Purchase the complete 2005 salary and benefits report, or add your company to the next survey, at www.compdatasurveys.com or call 800‑300‑9570.