Exhibitor Media Group, the award-winning leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education, announced the results of its 33rd Annual Salary Survey, which queried 500 face-to-face marketers. According to the survey, the 2019 average base salary for exhibit and event professionals increased 3.9 percent compared to 2018. Furthermore, respondents’ additional-compensation average (which combines overtime pay, travel per diems, profit sharing, stock purchase/participation, performance bonuses, compensatory time, holiday pay, etc.) jumped an astounding 66 percent compared to last year, meaning respondents’ total take-home pay has increased by an average of $8,819 in the past 12 months.
“For several months, jobs reports have put current wages at roughly 3.3 percent above year-over-year comparisons. And according to a CNBC survey of global CFOs, it appears that salaries will keep on growing, at least as long as economic expansion continues unabated,” said Travis Stanton, editor of EXHIBITOR magazine. “Granted, there are serious threats lurking in the shadows, including fears of a trade war with China, and the ongoing impact of sanctions on a number of industry sectors. Still, at least for the time being, there is cause for celebration when it comes to workers’ compensation, especially for trade show and event professionals.”
Below are key findings from this year’s survey. The comprehensive report is available in EXHIBITOR Magazine’s July 2019 issue and online.
- Average base salaries reached a record high of $78,164, marking the third consecutive annual increase since salaries last dipped in 2016.
- Sixty-seven percent of respondents received a raise in the last year, while an additional 30 percent maintained 2018 salary levels.
- Despite this year’s record-setting average base salary, nearly half of respondents (47 percent) believe their compensation is low, considering their job responsibilities.
- The gender gap has held steady, as women in the exhibit and event industry continue to make roughly 84 cents for every dollar earned by men.
- Twenty-seven percent of exhibit and event professionals work more than 50 hours per week (with nearly 6 percent totaling an average of 60 or more hours per week). Still, just 15 percent receive any form of overtime pay.
- Roughly 86 percent of respondents indicated the size of their exhibit marketing teams have increased or remained the same in the past 12 months, signaling a strong level of job security.
