ASAE study reports salaries on the rise for association convention and meeting planners

Total median compensation for those in charge of meetings and conventions at associations increased to $73,515 in 2006, up from $65,000 in 2004, according to the 2006 Association Executive Compensation & Benefits Study conducted by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Center for Association Leadership. Median compensation for meeting planners is $50,883, exhibit sales representatives receive an average of $53,614 and conference/meetings coordinators receive an average of $41,856. Compensation for CEOs and many staff executives at trade and professional associations also increased according to the study. According to the ASAE study, total CEO compensation generally corresponds to the size of the organization and increases as the organization grows. CEOs working for organizations with staffs of more than 100 people make an average of $362,000 in total compensation per year, while those working for organizations with staffs of less than 10 employees make an average of $103,000. Although executive compensations are increasing, employee benefits are declining. Of the organizations responding to the survey, only 84 percent offer retirement benefits (down from 88 percent in 2004), 60 percent offer long-term disability benefits (down from 74 percent in 2004) and 92 percent offer medical insurance (down from 96 percent in 2004). The survey results also conclude that female CEOs earn an average of 66 cents for every dollar earned by male CEOs of comparable experience. More than one-third (38 percent) of responding associations report they have a female CEO (up from 33 percent in 2004). In addition, women are more prevalent in other senior management staff positions, including human resources chief (91 percent), board/committee Administrator (83 percent), accountant (80 percent), administration chief (80 percent) and meetings/conventions chief (80 percent). Contact: Chris Vest, ASAE, (202) 626-2798.