An extensive audit of the Tuscaloosa Area Workforce was performed to assess
the skills and availability of our existing labor force. The study included
multiple counties in the West Alabama region: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, western
Jefferson, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, and Walker. The assessment was performed by
The Pathfinders, a site selection/location analysis firm based in Dallas, TX.
SURVEY SUMMARY
Fifty-seven (57) companies, with a combined total employment of over twenty-two
thousand, five hundred (22,500) workers, participated in the 2006 Tuscaloosa
Area Wage and Fringe Benefits Survey, representing business sectors including
manufacturing, distribution, construction and others. Companies of various sizes
were represented in the survey ranging from twenty or less employees to 250
or more workers. The number of participating companies by number of employees
is shown in the chart below.
Participating Companies by Total
Employment
Eight (8) of the reporting companies are unionized, with approximately 65%
of workers belonging to the unions. Unions reported were IBEW (International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers), UAW (United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural
Implement Workers of America), URW (United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic
Workers), USW (United Steelworkers), LIUNA (Laborers International Union of
North America), RWDSU (Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union) and IBB
(International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths,
Forgers and Helpers, AFL-CIO). The reported total annual payroll for the participating
companies was over $695 million, although it should be noted that not all companies
responded to the annual payroll question.
Hourly / Salaried Employees
SUMMARY OF WAGES REPORTED
Employers were asked to report entry-level wage, average wage,
and number of employees for each job classification. In the final report,
upper management job titles such as president, even though reported by some
companies, were not included in the wage summary. Some job titles, particular
to only one company, were not listed, but the wages reported for those titles
were included in another listed job title that appeared to be similar in job
description and pay rate.
For a complete report of entry and high level wages please contact us at (205)
758-7588. The cost of the complete survey is $50 for members and $500 for
non-members. .
Wage Summary
| |
Average
Entry
Wage |
High
Average
Wage |
Mean
Average
Wage |
Accountant |
19.65 |
35.00 |
24.93 |
Accounting Clerk |
10.62 |
19.96 |
13.82 |
Administrative Assistant |
12.79 |
23.18 |
15.57 |
Assembly - Automotive |
13.66 |
21.49 |
16.50 |
Bookkeeper |
11.24 |
19.38 |
14.83 |
Carpenter |
14.32 |
19.00 |
16.58 |
Computer Operator |
10.17 |
20.00 |
16.31 |
Computer Programmer |
21.45 |
37.02 |
29.41 |
Customer Service |
10.42 |
16.75 |
12.30 |
Data Entry Clerk |
9.10 |
12.00 |
10.90 |
Drafter - Skilled |
11.68 |
21.00 |
15.73 |
Electrician - skilled |
17.03 |
36.40 |
19.80 |
Electronics Technician |
17.84 |
36.40 |
21.65 |
Engineer |
22.92 |
40.00 |
27.84 |
Fork Lift Operator |
12.91 |
26.50 |
14.49 |
| General Laborer |
9.22 |
15.69 |
10.47 |
| General Office |
9.96 |
15.50 |
11.82 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator |
14.71 |
25.00 |
15.67 |
Inspection/Grader/Quality Assuance |
15.05 |
37.02 |
17.93 |
Inventory/Stock Clerk |
13.02 |
32.21 |
15.43 |
Janitor |
8.45 |
15.00 |
9.71 |
| LPN |
10.66 |
14.42 |
13.40 |
Machine Operator, no setup |
11.45 |
16.00 |
13.30 |
| Machine Operator, with setup |
14.72 |
25.00 |
17.68 |
Machinist - General |
12.23 |
25.00 |
16.23 |
| Machinist - Journeyman |
18.97 |
30.00 |
23.17 |
| Maintenance Mechanic |
16.34 |
34.65 |
19.15 |
Maintenance General |
13.06 |
27.41 |
15.63 |
| Material Handler |
14.45 |
32.21 |
17.73 |
| Office Manager |
14.28 |
21.54 |
17.20 |
Painter |
15.67 |
20.60 |
16.47 |
Receptionist |
9.15 |
15.25 |
11.00 |
Registered Nurse |
16.91 |
32.21 |
25.80 |
Secretary, Executive |
15.94 |
28.00 |
20.46 |
Secretary, General |
10.91 |
22.00 |
13.59 |
Security Guard |
13.05 |
22.13 |
14.24 |
Shipping & Receiving Clerk |
11.75 |
20.10 |
13.28 |
Tool & Die Makers |
17.02 |
20.94 |
20.94 |
Truck Driver - Heavy |
17.42 |
30.00 |
18.92 |
Truck Driver - Light |
12.61 |
21.35 |
14.35 |
Warehouse - General |
11.17 |
18.15 |
12.42 |
Welder - Fabrication/Manufacturing |
14.94 |
21.90 |
18.16 |
Welder- General |
17.00 |
20.00 |
17.63 |
|
X-Ray Technician |
14.79 |
21.85 |
19.69
|
Source: May 2006 Chamber
of Commerce Pathfinders Wage & Benefit Survey |
Fringe Benefits Of Manufacturing Organizations
in Tuscaloosa County
Overtime: Company policy varies with some companies
paying after eight hours per day and others paying after 40 hours per
week.
Holidays: Average of nine to eleven per year.
Vacation: One (1) week to five (5) weeks depending on
years of service.
Health Insurance: Portion (80/20) or all paid by company.
Ninety one percent of companies surveyed paid all or a portion of employee
health insurance.
Retirement: Most offer 401(k) plans.
Employment Projections
Alphabetical Listing of Estimated
New Hires
| Skill
Category |
Estimated Number of New Hires Over the
Next 12 Months |
Estimated Number of New Hires Over the
Next 13-24 Month |
Assembly |
61 |
27 |
| Bookkeeper / Accounting |
7 |
7 |
Computer Operator / Data Processing / Programmer |
6 |
8 |
Engineer |
9 |
10 |
| General Labor |
226 |
224 |
Machinist / Lathe Operator |
6 |
7 |
Maintnance |
26 |
20 |
Other Metal Working |
10 |
26 |
Quality Assurance |
4 |
4 |
Sales / Customer Service |
17 |
33 |
Warehouse / Distribution |
14 |
8 |
Word Processing / Office Skills |
17 |
21 |
| Other: |
25 |
41 |
TOTALS |
428 |
436 |
| Forty-two firms participated in the May
2006 Tuscaloosa Area Wage and Fringe Benefits Survey |
As shown in the table above, area employers participating in this survey estimate
864 new hires over the next two years, with 428 of these occurring in the next
twelve months.
|
