Comments on: You mean they pay you, as well?

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:03:12 +0000

Hi, Robin – I guess the correlation would perhaps be between years’ experience and seniority, and hence salary. I’ll have a dabble when I get back to the office to see if the data Barbara sent me shows anything meaningful on that front.

Kurt – interesting observation. As this is an international survey, the data’s probably even more variable between the US and other geographies (e.g. Asia), but my statistical training (many years ago) makes me wary of the population sizes, which aren’t really large enough to be confident in any conclusions. I did have a look at the data orted by U.S. state, but again by the time you cut a sample of 600-odd up 50-odd ways, the number of individuals in each area is a little low to be confident with any statistics. But if I ever move to the States, I’ll head for Iowa not California…

By: Kurt Rogahn

Kurt Rogahn — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:23:47 +0000

One thing to keep in mind about salary data: The U.S. economy is not geographically consistent, as my boss reminded me a few weeks back.

Housing costs, commuting times/costs, and other expenses vary greatly. I can still buy a wonderful home here in Iowa for under $150,ooo, but in California, a figure twice that amount often will buy something small and ratty. So a $50,000 salary in one part of the country could compare quite favorably with a $90,000 salary somewhere else.

Or, so I’m told.

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:40:33 +0000

Hmmm, always good data. It will be of particular interest to assess years of experience with salaries…..I would guess that would make quite a difference. Or at least it should, IMO.