2012 IW Salary Survey: Readers Sound Off

Survey respondents share the positives and negatives about the future of U.S. manufacturing, their jobs, their salaries, the skilled-worker shortage and more.

Nobody to Teach

No ability to pass on technical expertise or memory to anyone. There is simply no one to teach! Will most likely mean a contract employee job after I retire though. Our manufacturing base continues to erode in the U.S. and is now down to roughly 11% of the total economy! DANGEROUS for the U.S.! engineering manager in the chemicals industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the Middle Atlantic region and earning $130,000

Management no longer understands details of manufacturing which is driven partly by need to comply with regulations. Specialist are hired to make sure regulations are followed but these folks are not interested in learning basics of the business. New generation has little interest in "hands-on" details but they like reports and meetings. manufacturing/production manager in the chemicals industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the Pacific region and earning $107,000

Personal ethics by business leadership has compromised the healthy workplace which existed for many years. engineering manager in the industrial machinery industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the Pacific region and earning $124,900

My supervisor mentioned 8 months ago about getting me an increase in salary. He hasn't followed through. Would like additional education in my field. engineering manager in the metals industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the Mountain region and earning $46,950

Since 9-11 and the devastation that has ensued in our economy, it has become a challenge to collect from customers. Normal terms seem to have changed in as much as 30 days has become 60, 60 now 90, etc. We are not a bank and cannot be a bank. We pay timely and expect the same in return. Additionally, more and more accounts are "walking away" from paying their bills or simply closing their doors. -- corporate/executive manager (CEO, COO, CFO, President, GM, etc.) with 26-plus years of experience, living in the North Central region and earning $50,000

Cost of benefits at all-time high. Salaries down in the printing industry operations manager in the paper/printing/publishing industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the South Central region and earning $65,000

Senior engineering job after 30 years is only 50% more than starting salaries. Believe there is a lot more value than given in salary for the 30 years of experience. engineering manager in the construction/building equipment industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the North Central region and earning $94,000

Even though our company managed the economic downturn well, our company is focused on reducing expenses. engineering manager in the chemicals industry with 16 to 20 years of experience, living in the Mountain region and earning $116,000

Management is an Obstacle

The most difficult obstacle is to convince management of the changes (and cost) to modernize the operations in the organization before manufacturing falls by the lack of modern technology. quality manager in the medical devices/laboratory equipment industry with 16 to 20 years of experience, living in the Pacific region and earning $96,000

Our company continues to struggle with a stagnant housing market, rising commodity prices and negative profit margins. -- environmental, health or safety manager in the automotive/transportation vehicles & equipment industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the south Atlantic region and earning $73,000

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