More than 900 executives and managers of U.S. manufacturing companies responded to the 2016 Industry Week Salary Survey. Among the more interesting findings:

Professionals made, on average, $114,528 in 2015. This was down a bit from 2014, when the average was $114,615.

Average Executive salary dropped more than 15% to $164,209, compared to $193,644 last year.

Women were paid considerably less than men, reporting an average salary of $90,482 vs. $117,662.

And who says size doesn't matter? Average salaries at companies with revenues greater than $1B paid 25% higher salaries than companies with revenues less than $20M.

Companies are continuing to value and pay for Experience to the tune of 45% higher salaries for 25 or more years' experience than with five years of industryexperience.

But, is salary at the top of the list of today's manufacturing professional? No, but it is third after Job Stability and Challenging Work.

And when asked the question "What jobs are you having the most difficulty filling?" respondents provided the following:

• Engineers with four-year-degree (120+ -various types)
• Industrial Maintenance (51)
• Quality specialists (35-various types mentioned)
• Sales (32)
• CNC Operator/Machinist (29)
• Welder (29)
• Toolmaker (20)
• Manufacturing engineer (19)
• Production workers (17)
• Production managers (13)

So how about you? How do you compare to US averages? Check the summary table to the right and see!

You can download a copy of the complete eight page report 2016 IW SALARY SURVEY from the IW Website or the GEA Website. There are more insights and data in this well done survey thanks to our friends at Industry Week.

Editor's Note: CR4 would like to thank GEA Consulting's President, Larry Butz,, for contributing this blog entry, originally appearing at http://www.gea-consulting.com/hvac-blog