Find out how your compensation compares to your colleagues’ in the 2008 Book Business Salary Guide.

By Noelle Skodzinski

Study Methodology

Book Business’ 2008 Book Industry Salary Guide was conducted by nationally recognized independent research organization Readex Research.

The sample for the study consisted of 4,806 domestic recipients of Book Business with e-mail addresses on file, classified as book publishing, directory publishing, corporate publishing department, association/society/nonprofit, university press, journal publishing or government publishing. The sample was provided to Readex Research by Book Business. Readex removed incomplete and duplicated e-mail addresses, as well as those who had opted out of receiving Readex surveys, resulting in a mail-out of 4,710.

An invitation was sent to those 4,710 sample members asking them to complete the survey. E-mails returned as undeliverable were removed from the sample count, resulting in a net effective mail-out of 4,388.

Data was collected via e-mail survey from May 8–23. The survey was closed for tabulation with 435 usable responses, a 10-percent response rate based on the net effective mail-out.

As with any research, the results should be interpreted with the potential of non-response bias in mind. It is unknown how those who responded to the survey may be different from those who did not respond. In general, the higher the response rate, the lower the probability of estimation errors due to non-response and thus, the more stable the results.

The margin of error for percentages based on 435 usable responses is ±4.5 percent at the 95-percent confidence level. That is, 95 percent of the time, Readex Research can be confident that percentages in the actual population would not vary by more than this in either direction. The margin of error for percentages based on smaller sample sizes will be larger.

It has been another year of increasing challenges and opportunities for book publishing executives as manufacturing and distribution costs escalate, and the media landscape shifts and shimmies before our very eyes. As costs continue their steep incline and new opportunities on the digital horizon demand more and more attention, many of you have been increasingly tasked with wearing additional hats—whether you’re the president, the head of operations or manufacturing, the production director, marketing director, or just about any other position. While publishing has never been a cakewalk (for most, anyway), it seems that now is a time when you certainly need to earn your keep. And, many of you may wonder—now, more than ever—“Should I be paid more for my hard work?” Maybe you’re wondering, “Am I paying my best production manager a competitive salary (in this region of the country) for all this work?” or “What kind of raises are the norm in the industry right now?”

Book Business’ second annual Book Industry Salary Guide, conducted by independent research organization Readex Research, will help you find answers to those questions and many more.

Gender Gap: Men Still Earn More Than Women
This year’s study shows that men average $100,800 in total annual compensation (base salary plus bonuses and other cash compensation), while women average $70,700. The difference between the two is almost double what last year’s study found: In 2007, the average total annual compensation was $79,200 for men, and $62,800 for women.

Why such an increase this year in the amount men are making over women? Unfortunately, the data can’t answer that, but the increase does prompt a look at who responded to the study both years. More women than men participated this year, while last year, men outnumbered women. This year’s study was comprised of 53-percent women and 46-percent men (one percent did not respond), while last year’s study was comprised of almost the reverse: 46-percent women and 54-percent men.

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