In the midst of challenging economic times, it still pays to be a golf course superintendent.
The 2009 version of GCSAA's Compensation, Benefits and Operations report (we call it the "Comp and Ben" survey here at GCSAA HQ) is on the street, and it reports that the average salary for superintendents rose to $78,898, an increase of 6.9 percent over the figure from the 2007 edition of this report. Additionally, the median salary for superintendents also headed north, up 6.1 percent from the 2007 survey, which means superintendent salaries kept pace with the Bureau of Labor Statistic's Employment Cost Index, which was registered a 5.9 percent index for similar businesses in the same time frame.
GCSAA has conducted this survey every two years since 1995, and every one of those has shown an increase in the salaries of GCSAA member superintendents. Overall, superintendent salaries have shot up 60.1 percent between the first survey (when the average was $49,269) and the most recent effort.
"This survey reinforces the feedback we've received from golfers and employers that GCSAA members are key to the enjoyment of the game and the economic success of the facility," GCSAA President Mark D. Kuhns, CGCS, said. "The rising salary indicates that our members continue to be recognized for those contributions."
While the salary information was the biggest takeaway from the 2009 report, GCSAA also unearthed some interesting demographic information from the survey, such as:
- The average age of superintendents who take part in the survey is 44 years old.
- Survey respondents had, on average, 13.5 years of experience in the industry.
- Those same folks had an average tenure of 8.5 years at their current facility
- The average maintenance staff size of those responding was 24.
The survey was distributed to all Class A and Superintendent Members of GCSAA, and attracted a response rate of almost 52 percent. The association uses the data collected to personalize salary reports for GCSAA members, as a piece in career counseling efforts for those interested in a career in golf course management and to help reinforce the level of professionalism found among superintendents.
All GCSAA members who helped to make up that 52 percent response rate are eligible to receive free online access to the complete 2009 Compensation, Benefits and Operations report. Use this link, but remember — you must be logged into the GCSAA Web site and have participated in the survey to get access. Members can also get a hard-copy version of the report for $15 by calling GCSAA at 800-472-7878. Non-participating GCSAA members can purchase online access for $125 or both online and hard-copy access for $140. Non-members get both for $500.
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