Professional Services Employers Tend to Pay Higher Increases

According to the 2011 NorthCoast 99 Winners Report, pay increases vary considerably by industry, as does the amount in which those increases are differentiated by performance.

The report shows that winners in professional services industries reported higher increases for 2010 than those in manufacturing, distribution, transportation, health care, and non-profit industries.

Specifically, winners in marketing, technology, and architectural services industries reported providing average increases of 7.8% to top performers – the highest increase reported of all of the industries. Winners in finance, legal, and management services industries also reported above average increases for top performers of 7.3%. These industries also reported higher pay increases across all of their employees as well as for average performers.

Winners in professional services industries also reported more differentiation of pay increases across performance levels. Winners in marketing, technology, and architectural services industries reported an average difference of 4% between top and average performers’ pay increases and 6% between top and bottom performers’ pay increases.

Similarly, winners in finance, legal, and management services industries reported an average difference of 3% between top and average performers’ pay increases and 6% between top and bottom performers’ pay increases. Winners in non-profit and health and human services industries reported the lowest differences in pay increases across performance levels, suggesting that they are less likely to significantly differentiate compensation increases by performance.