Results from the 1998 SLA Salary Survey, conducted in April/May 1998, indicate a healthy increase in earnings since 1997. Among Canadian respondents in the same positions between April 1, 1997, and April 1, 1998, the mean percent change in earnings was 4.5. The mean percent change for similar U.S. respondents was 5.2. In comparison, wages for white-collar workers in all industries in the United States increased 4.2 percent for the year ending March 1998, according to the Employment Cost Index figures calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Methodology and Administration

The 1998 SLA Annual Salary Survey was the second salary survey conducted by SLA on an annual basis, and the fourteenth survey since 1967. In April 1998, the questionnaire was mailed first-class to SLA regular and associate members living and working in the United States and Canada. The survey was sent to a random sample of U.S. members (N=4919) and to all Canadian members (N=1029), a total of 5,948. The number of responses received was 2,435, representing a 41 percent return rate. Members were asked to return their surveys directly to Association Research, Inc., who entered and tabulated the data.

The 1998 survey instrument was revised considerably based on membership comments and suggestions. New questions were included to discern such factors as: 1) the level of earnings from sources such as bonuses and commissions, 2) the size of the respondent's work organization and, 3) the level of earnings about respondents' employees, so that supervisors can bargain for competitive staff wages. Several questions were also revised or updated. Postal/zip code identifiers were requested to allow more specific compensation information by place. In addition, the Primary Responsibilities list was expanded to include skill sets that have recently emerged, such as Database/Software Design, Information Product-Database Development, Intranet Development, Knowledge Management, Marketing, Trainer, Vendor/Sales, and Webmaster. The job title question was also expanded to include Webmaster and Product Sales Manager/Representative and to specify a self-employed Owner/Consultant title.

For the figures reported here, all full-time workers who reported work-related earnings with yearly, monthly, weekly, and hourly units of pay were included. The earning figures represent work-related earnings before deductions, and do not include bonuses, overtime, or other payments. If respondents reported monthly earnings, pay was multiplied by twelve, weekly units were multiplied by fifty-two, and hourly units were multiplied by 2,080.

Median and Mean Earnings

Data for the United States and for Canada are presented separately. Canadian salary data are reported in Canadian dollars. The exchange rate on April 1, 1998, was Canadian $1.42; United States $1.00. As indicated in the figures below, the median pay for full-time information professionals in the U.S. as of April 1, 1998, was $47,000; the average, or mean, was $50,572. The Canadian median pay for full-time information professionals was $49,800, and the mean was $51,604.

Earnings by Type of Institution

The earnings of information professionals vary by the type of institution in which respondents work. Among those in the U.S., the median pay for corporate information professionals was $48,000, $1,000 more than the $47,000 median for all U.S. special librarians. The median among those working for the federal government was even higher at $53,000, $6,000 above the total median. The earnings of information professionals in other work settings fell below the overall median rate: state and other government - $43,100; academic subject departments or research institutes - $42,100; academic general campus library- $39,900; and public library - $37,700.

When examined by type of institution, academics in Canada had the highest median earnings. The median pay among information professionals working in academic subject departments or research institutes was $61,000, well above the overall median of $49,800. Earnings among academics in general campus libraries were also higher than the total median, at $51,400. The median pay among Canadians in the remaining institution types was slightly below the overall median: state and other government - $49,300; corporate - $49,000; and federal government - $48,500.

Though the institution figures are compelling, remember that the differences in earnings by institution may be explained by other factors. There are large differences in earnings by industry among the corporate librarians. In addition, experience levels and geographic location of respondents in the various categories are two other important factors to consider.

Thanks again to all who took the time to respond to this important survey. More details about the findings from the 1998 survey can be obtained from the SLA web site at www.sla.org or from the SLA monograph, The Annual Salary Survey, 1998 ($45 for members/$54 for non-members; includes postage and handling).