Two biennial studies are now available from IPC: 2006-2007 IPC Wage Rate and Salary Report for the PCB Industry and 2006-2007 IPC Wage Rate and Salary Report for the Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Industry.

The PCB industry salary and wage report presents aggregate data on 41 positions and their related job descriptions. Historical and current wage and salary data are shown by regions in the U.S. and Canada and by company size. The report also includes aggregate data on the respondents' personnel and compensation policies, benefits and sales compensation structure.

According to this study, hourly wages in the PCB industry have increased since 2004. A similar trend can be seen in salaried positions. Overall average projected organizational salary budgets increased more than 3% from 2006 to 2007.

The EMS industry report presents aggregate data on 30 positions and their related job descriptions. Current wage and salary data are shown by regions in the U.S. and Canada and by company size. The report also includes aggregate data on the respondents' personnel and compensation policies, benefits and sales compensation structure.

The survey found that, on average, U.S. and Canadian EMS organizational salary budgets for salaried positions increased in 2007 by 3.1%. Salary budgets for management positions increased 3.9%, while hourly positions increased 3.3%. Benefit costs in 2006 were, on average, 16.8% of total wages, down from 21.6% in 2004.

The PCB and EMS industry wage and salary reports cost $450 for IPC members and $950 for nonmembers. For additional information on these studies, contact Sree Bhagwat, IPC market research manager, at 330-677-5563.

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