BOOK INDUSTRY SALARY GUIDE

ou may be sitting at your desk wondering if the stressful job that is giving you gray hair and ulcers is worth it. Or, you may be perfectly content in your current position, but just a little bit curious as to whether your salary is competitive. You also may be wondering whether you are paying your staff enough to keep them from exploring other opportunities.

Now, using Book Business’ first “Book Industry Salary Guide,” you can see how your salary and your staff’s salaries compare to others in similar positions at other book publishing companies.

The guide is based on data compiled from a comprehensive survey conducted by independent research organization Readex Research, with cooperation from industry organizations the Book Industry Study Group Inc., the Association of Educational Publishers and the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. The survey findings, which are based on responses from 675 individuals, incorporate important variables such as demographic information, including age, gender and level of education.

Men Make More Than Women

Among the survey’s notable findings is the difference between salaries for men and women. According to the survey, men average $79,200 in total annual compensation (including bonuses and other cash compensation), while women average $62,800. In other words, on average, men earn $16,400 more than women.

If you look at the median salaries, which show the exact midpoint of men’s and women’s salaries, the gap closes by only $500, with men ($71,300) earning $15,900 more than women ($55,400).

On a percentage basis, the gender salary gap in the book publishing industry is less than the nationwide average across all industries. According to the “Book Industry Salary Guide” data, women are paid, on average, about 79.3 percent of what men are paid; and according to the National Organization for Women, women in all industries are paid, on average, about 77 percent of what men are paid.