October , 1999
Salaries Struggle to Match CPI
APEGGA's Annual Salary Survey points to a general pattern of modest salary increases for engineers and a less consistent pattern for geologists and geophysicists.
Based on an all-industries comparison with last year, all responsibility categories for engineers, except for those in junior ranks, showed percentage rises in the mean salary - reaching 5.1 per cent in the case of the most senior level.
In the case of geophysicist, increases are reported except in the most senior and some junior ranks. Geologists with supervisory or managerial responsibilities, as a group, lost some ground in terms of compensation levels over the last year. (Some responsibility categories for geologists and geophysicists have relatively small numbers reporting.)
Overall, the average annual salary increase for the professions was 2.2 per cent. Statistic Canada reported a rise of 2.6 per cent in the Consumer Price Index in Alberta from August 1998 to August 1999.
The Salary Survey is carried out under the auspices of APEGGA's Professional Development Committee. A summary of the results, based on replies from 76 employers with a total of 5,897 employees, is published as an insert in this edition of The PEGG. The 1999 Value of Professional Services booklet, with more comprehensive data, will be available in November. Additional information also will be posted on APEGGA's website www.apegga.org.