CHI 98 April 18-23, 1998, Los Angeles, CA USA Salary Survey Results

These are selected results from the 467 salary surveys received from CHI 98 attendees.

• September 22: Salary data added for reports on job type, organization type and years in organization/years in HCI.

We hope you find the results useful. Please send any comments or suggestions to chi98-suggestions@acm.org.

• Select a link from the list below to see a single table of results
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Salary by Job Type

Question: Job type (select one).
Results: Consultants highest on average, but more variable than the others.

Highest Degree

Question: Indicate your highest degree.
Results: Masters degree was most common, followed by PhD and Bachelors.

Description of Highest Degree

Question: Circle the best description of your highest degree.
Results: Almost one third CS, with Cognitive Psychology and HCI also popular.

Primary and Secondary Jobs

Question: Please select a total of two choices - one in each column - for primary and secondary job.
Results: Interaction design led the way, with usability testing a common secondary job.

Salary by Organization Type

Question: Organization type (select one).
Results: Private researchers and consultants earned over $80,000.

Salary by Years Worked in Current Organization and HCI Field

Question: How many years have you worked in the organization selected above? How many years have you worked in the HCI field (excluding school)?
Results: 16-20 year HCI experts earned twice as much as newcomers to the field.

Region of Work (by number of CHIs attended)

Question: Primary country in which you work (select one or fill in). State/Province/Region where you work.
Results: Western USA outdrew everyone else; non-Americans were likely first-timers.

Number of CHI Conferences Attended (by region)

Question: CHI conferences attended (select one)
Results: Over one-third of the responses came from first-timers; North Americans were more likely to be "die-hard" attendees.

Organization Memberships (by region and CHIs attended)

Question: Select all ogranizations below in which you are a member
Results: North Americans and regular attendees were more often members.

Weeks of Vacation Received in 1997 (by region)

Question: Weeks of vacation given to you in 1997 (total granted, not weeks taken).
Results: North Americans got less vacation.

1997 Gross Salary

Question: 1997 gross salary (before bonus, benefits & taxes).
Results: Average salary was almost $78,000.

1997 Cash Bonus

Question: 1997 cash bonus (before benefits & taxes).
Results: Most did not get a bonus.