2010 Salary and Benefit Survey

Supermarket Location Research

Goals of the Survey

 The most important goal of this survey is to provide accurate information to both employees and employers regarding the industry “standards” and trends.  It is hoped that some common misconceptions can be corrected.

 The second goal of this study is to help personnel and human resource departments to better understand the kind of compensation package required in order to attract (and keep) quality location analysts.  Too often these departments only look at education and experience requirements and do not understand the post-college training, special skills, demanding schedules, and national shortage of location analysts.

 Figures shown in blue are results from the 2007 Salary and Benefit Survey, and are presented for comparison purposes.

 Notes to Results 

1.         Some questionnaires were discarded based on incomplete information. Overall, 43 completed survey forms were kept.

 2.         Respondents did not all complete every question accurately.  Therefore, some questions have a base count of less than 43.  The base count is noted for results where that count may be important.

 3.         Compared to the 2007 survey, average salaries were up about $3,700 per year, or 4%.  Bonus amounts remained constant.

4.         Consultants appear to have higher earnings, but they tend to have slightly more experience, receive less in bonuses and benefits, and spend considerably more time away from home (74 days, versus 29 days for non-consultants).

All categories reported fewer overnight days in the field, perhaps because of fewer new-site projects.

 5.         Not surprisingly, salary increases linearly with experience.  Beginning analysts with little experience (less than 3 years) are generally paid salaries in the $50-60k range.  After 10 years of experience, the relationship between experience and salary is almost non-existent, and salary is more strongly related to job title (e.g. Manager or Director).

6.         Satisfaction with current salary has become notably higher, compared to the 2007 survey.  86% of respondents reported that they were “very satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” with their current compensation package, compared to 60% in 2007.  It is possible that the struggling economy has simply made more respondents happy to continue to have a job at all.  

* These figures should be viewed with caution due to small sample size.

 Overall figures:  All Respondents

 Chain employees:  27 (63%)                    73%
Wholesaler employees:  4 (9%)               7%
Consultant or developer:  14 (33%)      22%

Average salary:  $96,130                         $92,445 

Average bonus (counting no bonus as zero):  13%             13% 

Perceived financial status of your company (base 43): 

We’re doing well:  28 (65%)
OK/Average:  12 (28%)
We’re struggling:  3 (7%) 

Satisfaction with compensation package (base of 41): 

Very satisfied:  11 (27%)                            19%
Somewhat satisfied:  24 (59%)               41%
Neutral:  3 (7%)                                           19%
Somewhat dissatisfied:  1 (2%)               17%
Very Dissatisfied:  2 (5%)                           6% 

Confident that salary will continue to rise:  86%       85%

 Average years of experience:  15                     15 years

Managers and directors:  17 years       28
Senior analysts:  14 years                          19
Analyst:  9 years                                          7

Days in the field requiring overnight stay:  43           50 

Consultants                                     74                    95
Chains and wholesalers               29                    35 

Tasks that are part of the job (base of 43): 

Sales forecasting:  38 (88%)                                 96%
Managing other analysts:  20 (47%)                 47%
Promotions & salary reviews:  17 (40%)            36%
Training:  28 (65%)                                                  67%
Project presentations:  37 (86%)                         87%
Consumer research:  10 (23%)                            31%
Screening other projects:  30 (70%)                  71%
Analyst performance reviews:  17 (40%)         40%
Lease negotiations:  2 (5%)                                 5%
GIS / Map production:  32 (74%)                       80%
Strategic deployment decisions:  22 (51%)    69% 

Do you ever feel pressured to change your sales forecasts? 

Never:  4 (10%)
Rarely:  10 (24%)
Sometimes:  22 (52%)
Usually:  3 (7%)
Nearly always:  3 (7%) 

Previous position or employment (base of 42).  Categories are not mutually exclusive:  Note that responses were sometimes non-specific, so these results should be viewed with caution. 

Inside a supermarket:  24 (57%)
Consumer research inside this company:  5 (12%)
GIS within this company:  3 (7%)
Other department within this company:  5 (12%)
GIS position, different company:  6 (14%)
Site evaluation, different company:  24 (57%)
Other research, different company:  12 (29%)
Other supermarket company, not research of GIS:  6 (14%) 

To which department do you report (base 50):  Note that some respondents indicated multiple departments, suggesting vague structure or confused respondents. 

Research:  12 (31%)           34%
Real Estate:  16 (41%)       46%
Finance:  0 (0%)
Marketing:  1 (3%)              6%
Chief Executive:  3 (8%)   14%
Other:  7 (18%)                    8% 

“Perks” received: 

Company car:  28%                       44%
401-K:  80%                                       80%
Profit sharing:  35%                         20%
Bonus:  73%                                      73%
Stock grant/options:    43%         35%
Other:  5%