Advertisement

Follow Alberta Venture On:

Executive Salary Survey

In our annual poll, Alberta’s HR managers reveal what companies are paying their key people

Nov 1, 2009

Executive Salaries By Position

Salary High Industry Salary Low Industry Median Salary
Chief Executive Officer $1,240,000 Resource Industries $92,500 Manufacturing & Distribution $257,300
Chief Operating Officer $588,400 Resource Industries $77,100 Resource Industries $139,800
Chief Financial/Accounting Officer $392,200 Resource Industries $71,600 High Tech $143,600
Chief Sales/Marketing Executive $304,800 Retail $75,600 Manufacturing & Distribution $113,900
Chief Information/Technology Officer $259,200 High Tech $87,800 Construction $178,300
Chief Manufacturing Executive $190,500 Manufacturing & Distribution $68,200 Manufacturing & Distribution $121,300
Chief Engineering Executive $162,200 Construction $90,300 Manufacturing & Distribution $122,800
Chief Human Resources Executive $246,600 Resource Industries $67,100 Retail $101,700
Division Head $129,400 Construction $60,100 Manufacturing & Distribution $90,300

Salary By Number Of Employees

1-49 Employees 50-499 Employees 500+ Employees
Salary High Median Salary Salary High Median Salary Salary High Median Salary
Chief Executive Officer $286,000 $164,400 $559,300 $267,500 $1,240,000 $693,800
Chief Operating Officer $147,700 $117,100 $342,600 $184,200 $779,500 $405,900
Chief Financial/Accounting Officer $133,500 $103,800 $248,300 $183,000 $497,400 $319,900
Chief Sales/Marketing Executive $177,200 $96,900 $316,400 $145,700 $285,700 $203,600
Chief Information/Technology Officer $102,600 $81,300 $146,200 $127,900 $237,700 $181,600
Chief Manufacturing Executive $93,700 $90,700 $127,400 $117,100 $181,500 $137,400
Chief Engineering Executive $104,600 $100,800 $162,800 $134,300 $188,100 $156,300
Chief Human Resources Executive $128,300 $89,400 $151,600 $109,400 $202,200 $109,400
Division Head $103,900 $87,300 $122,400 $91,600 $154,600 $98,200

Median Salary By Position As Compared To

Companies’ Gross Annual Revenue

Under $10 Million $10 Million to $99 Million $100 Million to $500 Million
Chief Executive Officer $152,500 $268,200 $737,800
Chief Operating Officer $117,300 $212,800 $387,000
Chief Financial/Accounting Officer $105,200 $187,300 $322,700
Chief Sales/Marketing Executive $111,600 $148,100 $232,600
Chief Manufacturing Executive n/a $114,100 $159,700
Chief Engineering Executive $102,600 $126,300 $154,700
Chief Human Resources Executive $81,800 $112,500 $146,000
Division Head $77,100 $87,400 $97,200

General Company Information

Total number of full-time employees represented 46,723 Survey participants were asked for general information about their companies. Here is the breakdown from all companies that participated in the 2009 Alberta Executive Salary Survey.
Number of full-time employees High: 28,200 Low: 29

Median: 243
Companies with unionized employees 23.40%
Private companies 42.70%
Public companies 57.30%
Gross Annual Revenues (most recent year end)
Under $10 million 24.30%
$10 million to $99 million 30.90%
$100 million to $499 million 26.60%
$500 million + 18.20%

Average Salary Increases

Last Year Most Recent Fiscal Year Next Fiscal Year
(planned or estimated)		 Salary Increases
In 2009, a lesser number of executives received increases than did in 2008. Percentage increases were also lower. The highest wage increase reported for an executive was 17.8% in 2009 compared to 19% in 2005. For middle level managers, it was 13.5% and for entry level professionals, it was 9.4%.
Executive Officers 6.80% 6.30% 5%
Mid-level Managers 6.50% 4.30% 4.50%
Entry-level Professionals 6.70% 3.80% 4.10%

Salary Review

CEO Base Salary by
Company Type		 CEO Benefits The majority (73.6%) of companies review salaries on an annual basis. The remainder (26.4%) review salaries on an ad hoc basis or relative to market conditions.
Public Private Total Benefits Industry
High $1,240,000 $625,500 High $42,800 Resource Industries
Low $128,200 $94,800 Low $7,600 Manufacturing & Dist.
Median $641,800 $259,100 Median $23,400

Annual Bonuses

Bonus High/
Bonus Low		 Industry Median Eligibility for Promotion
When queried on the most important factor in determining an employee’s eligibility for promotion, companies surveyed cited the following:

51.9% Personal performance
21.6% Company performance
10.4% Project performance
7.2% Board or management’s discretion
6.1% Specified amount at a specified time (e.g., annually or every two years)
2.8% Performance of department/division
Chief Executive Officer $6,000,000
$34,000		 Telecommunications/
Media Retail		 $418,700
Chief Operating Officer $1,870,400
$16,800		 Resource Industries
Manufacturing & Distribution		 $289,200
Chief Financial/Accounting Officer $1,030,000
$8,500		 Resource Industries
High Tech		 $163,200
Chief Sales/Marketing Executive $174,900
$7,000		 High Tech
Manufacturing & Distribution		 $116,300
Chief Manufacturing Executive $84,500
$10,900		 Construction
Construction		 $48,200
Chief Engineering Executive $138,400
$12,500		 Power/Utilities
Manufacturing & Distribution		 $74,700
Chief Human Resources Executive $55,700
$7,200		 Construction
Retail		 $37,100
Division Manager or Head $75,000
$8,000		 Resources
Retail		 $42,600

Types Of Incentives Offered

Annual Bonus Sign-on Bonus Profit Share Stock Options Incentives
Annual bonuses remain the most popular form of incentive for employees, with 75.7% of executive officers receiving these as part of a company incentive plan. For middle managers and entry level professionals, 40.7% and 26.8% receive annual bonuses, respectively. The table to the left summarizes other popular forms of incentives, with the percentage of employees that are awarded each type.
Executive Officers 75.70% 36.40% 83.90% 27.30%
Mid-level Managers 40.70% 14.30% 43.60% 6.80%
Entry-level Professionals 26.80% 7.80% 17.70% 2.70%

Small Business
Sponsored by PWC

Venture 100
brought to you by ATB Financial

Business Person of the Year
In Partnership with CAA

Alberta Oil
Magazine

Unlimited
Magazine
Advertisement