STC Salary data collection

[Kit Brown]

Hi Everyone--

I normally just lurk on this list, but wanted to address a post regarding
the STC salary surveys that Peter Kelly posted a few days ago (this is
cross-posted to the STC Forum).

As you know, STC has changed the way that it presents salary data in order
to build more credibility with hiring managers. When considering this new
approach to presenting salary data, STC decided to start with the U.S.
because information for the U.S. is most easily accessible to the office.
However, STC does NOT plan to stop with the U.S.
 
Previously, income was self-reported, leading hiring managers to think that
the numbers were being inflated. The new process uses data collected by the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from 1.25 million businesses.

Obtaining and publishing the data is a new process and very different from
work on the old, self-reported survey. As with any new process, it's best to
pilot the process on a smaller scale first, then roll it out to additional
markets later. 

Here is what STC is doing to gather similar information internationally:
 
--STC contacted the Canadian Dept. of Statistics for information on Canadian
technical communicators. STC is waiting to hear from that Department
regarding what is available and how much it would cost to obtain the data. 

-- Several members in the U.K. have expressed interest in using the
information compiled for the U.S. Dept of Labor to update the Labour
Ministry's definitions. STC and ISTC (the U.K.-based Institute of Scientific
and Technical Communicators) are communicating about this (see the article
in ISTC's newsletter "Are you artistic or professional?" at
http://www.istc.org.uk/Publications/Newsletter/News_2007/istcOct2007.pdf#pag
e=2 ).

-- STC is working with ISO and other professional organizations around the
world to set new standards for our profession.

But all of these initiatives take time and money. STC would love to hear
ideas for acquiring objective salary/industry data in your region. Please
share your thoughts on the STC Forum, or contact me and I will pass them
along. If you are interested in participating in standards development,
please contact Annette Reilly (annette.d.reilly at lmco.com). 

Regards,
Kit Brown
STC Associate Fellow
Chair, STC Global Strategies committee
Principal
Comgenesis, LLC
kit.brown at comgenesis.com
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Coauthor (with Brenda Huettner and Char James-Tanny) of "Managing Virtual
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