Respondents to IndustryWeek's 2012 salary survey were invited to share comments about their jobs, their salaries, the state of U.S. manufacturing and anything else they wished to voice. We have captured many of those comments in the text that follows. To read the main 2012 Salary Survey article, click here. The 2012 salary survey data charts are available here.
From the 2012 IW salary survey respondents:
As we get older, time away from the job becomes more important. director of manufacturing/production in the paper/printing/publishing industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the south Atlantic region and earning $128,500
My bonus is tied to profits instead of sales. When bonuses are tied to sales, it does not reflect the health of the company. sales/marketing manager in the electronics/high-tech/telecom equipment industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the North Central region and earning $120,000
Plant was shut down for 1-year, then reopened. Unemployment in California is extremely high so having employment is a major achievement. Wage freeze has been in place for three years so there are pressures to remove the freeze. Its a difficult time for anyone to be in manufacturing, either in management or as a production worker. Need to reevaluate our current leaders in the next election. If we dont elect business-friendly leaders in both the federal and state, we deserve what we get. plant/facilities manager in the plastics and rubber products industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the Pacific region and earning $86,000
Manufacturing jobs will continue to lose significance as wages continue to suffer. The average assembly line worker today cannot feed, clothe and house his/her family on their entry-level wages. With the advent of two-tier wages, the days of having meaningful gainful employment in manufacturing seem to be disappearing. engineering manager with 26-plus years of experience, living in the North Central region and earning $109,000
Flawed Trade Policies
Very concerned our nation has turned its back on manufacturing even though it is the most important factor in maintaining a thriving middle class. Our politicians, blinded by the perceived immunity of the U.S. economy, have sold the country down the river with very flawed trade policies and agreements. corporate/executive manager (CEO, COO, CFO, President, GM, etc.) in the apparel/textiles industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the South Atlantic region and earning $175,000
Salary is fine. Job situation is fine. State of manufacturing industry is better due to consumer spending being up. Professional challenges are logistics and unmotivated employees that would rather sit at home and draw a government check. purchasing/procurement/sourcing manager in the food and beverage industry with 11 to 15 years of experience, living in the South Central region and earning $60,000
We as U.S. manufacturers have got to recognize the true cost (both soft and hard cost) of offshoring and reevaluate the importance we place on "lowest cost" on materials and manufacturing. -- sales/marketing manager in the industrial machinery industry with 21 to 25 years of experience, living in the North Central region and earning $94,500
I am absolutely bullish about the future of the manufacturing sector in America. sales/marketing manager in the plastics and rubber products industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the North Central region and earning $145,250
My geographic requirements limit my opportunities or I would likely be moving on to another position. lean/continuous improvement manager in the metals industry with 21 to 25 years of experience, living in the North Central region and earning $88,000
If only we manufactured 50% of the goods we now import, more than a million jobs would be created. engineering manager in the apparel/textiles industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the South Atlantic region and earning $96,000
Salary is satisfactory but actually going backward financially is very frustrating in the current world situation. engineering manager in the construction/building equipment industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the South Atlantic region and earning $81,000
