The wild ride continues: After rising slightly in 2010-2011, average training salaries nose-dived nearly $8,000 to an average of $75,657 in 2011-2012, according to Training magazine’s Annual Salary Survey of 1,281 readers. The average increase in salary in the last 12 months (not including a promotion or change of employer) rose slightly to 2.81 percent in 2011-2012, up from 2.57 percent in 2010-2011. Some 43 percent of respondents said their salary was low relative to their responsibilities, while another 49 percent said it was equitable. Only 7 percent believe they are well paid relative to their responsibilities. Some 51 percent of respondents said they received a bonus last year, and 55 percent are eligible for one this year. The average cash bonus was $9,536, down from $11,272 in 2010-2011.
Despite the steep decrease in average trainer salaries, only 3.2 percent said employers asked them to take a pay cut versus 6.6 percent in 2010-2011. Some 50 percent of respondents said their organization cut budgets in the last 12 months, 4 percent less than in 2010-2011. Travel was slashed by 43 percent of respondents vs. 49 percent in 2010-2011. Some 21 percent froze salaries vs. 30 percent in 2010-2011. And 9.7 percent eliminated bonuses compared with 11.4 percent the year before. Employee layoffs remained virtually the same at 24 percent.
Most training professionals continue to enjoy what they do for a living, with 73.6 percent saying they wouldn’t choose another career if they could do it all over again. Of those who preferred other careers, answers ranged from geneticist, horticulturist, optometrist, and computer programmer to acrobat, bail bondsman, pastry chef, and drummer in a rock-and-roll band.
Dowload the full Salary Survey report below.
