Trends in Compensation
Every other year, GCSAA conducts a survey of its superintendent members. In 2007, a total of 4,078 superintendents participated in the 2007 Compensation and Benefits survey. The data presented in this report is based on trends observed through surveys conducted by third party survey companies.
Superintendents who completed the survey are employed in a wide variety of situations – from working at nine-hole municipal courses with annual maintenance budgets of $100,000, to managing 45-hole private resorts with annual budgets of more than $1 million. Over 64 percent of all superintendents responding to the 2007 Compensation and Benefits survey work at 18-hole facilities, 43 percent work at private facilities, and 26 percent at daily fee courses.
Superintendent Salary Information
In 2007, the average base salary for golf course superintendents rose to $73,766, a 7 percent increase over the base salary reported in 2005. This increase represents a 49.7 percent gain since 1995, or an increase of $24,497 in 11 years.
In 2007, half of all superintendents earn $66,000 or more annually, 25 percent of all superintendents earn more than $87,550, and the top 10 percent earn $115,000 or more annually.
Reporting Structure
Golf course superintendents most often report to general managers (33%), owners (17%), followed by Green Committee/Board of Directors (16%) and the Director of Golf (8%). The remaining responses were grouped into the other category (see figure).
In 2007, 15 percent of superintendents responded that they worked either for a management or maintenance management company, a slight decrease from the 17 percent reported in 2005.
Employment Profile & Career Path
The 2007 Compensation, Benefits and Operations report states that member superintendents:
- Average 43.5 years of age
- Average 14 years as a superintendent
- Have held their current position for just under 9 years
- Manage an average crew size of 21
- 85 percent report they are either satisfied or extremely satisfied with their current position
- On average, plan to retire by the age of 63
- Seasonally, work an average of 55 hours in the spring, 60 hours in the summer, 51 hours in the fall, and 41 hours in the winter
- Receive an average of 17 paid vacation days, 6 paid holidays and 7 sick days
When asked about alternative career paths, most reported an interest in becoming a General Manager (22%), followed by Regional Agronomy Management (21%), and Owner (18%). Only 9 percent reported an interest in sales.
Experience & education
The results of the 2007 survey compared with findings in previous years indicate experience and education continue to be significant factors driving salary increases. Of those who responded to the 2007 survey, 29.3 percent are certified superintendents. Experienced certified superintendents continued to command significant average salary increases during the reporting period. The statistics from those who have demonstrated their experience and education through the certification process include the following:
- Ten (10.37) years = average tenure (stay at one facility
- $115,000 = the median (mid-point) salary for those at 18-hole facilities, managing budgets of $1 million or more
- At least 14 percent of all certified superintendents with a bachelor’s degree or higher earn $125,000 or more
Younger superintendents are more likely to have college degrees (two-year certificate, associate's, bachelor's, master’s, or post-graduate) than superintendents over 55 years of age. In 2007, 91.8 percent of superintendents 34 or under earned a college degree, while 69.6 percent of superintendents over the age of 55 earned a college degree.
Compensation for CGCS
Certified golf course superintendents who responded to the 2007 survey reported earning an average salary of $87,225 as compared to non-certified golf course superintendents who reported earning an average salary of $68,464, a 27% difference. In 2005, certified golf course superintendents reported earning an average salary of $80,489 versus non-certified golf course superintendents who reported an average salary of $64,212. Overall certified superintendent average salaries increased 8 percent from 2005 to 2007.
Compensation boosted by bonuses
About 54 percent of all GCSAA superintendents surveyed receive a bonus in addition to base compensation. The 2007 report indicates top criteria for bonuses were: merit and performance on the job (64%), profitability of the overall operation (46%), and staying within budget (42%), matching findings from previous reports. The average annual bonus for all superintendents in 2007 was $6,548, the median $4,000.
Other Budgetary Information
In the 2007 survey, the budget for a facility was broken down separately into maintenance, capital, water, and payroll, to better compare each of the budget items. With that said, the overall median budgets managed by golf course superintendents is $311,412 for maintenance, $30,000 for water, $75,000 for capital and $333,024 for payroll.
Because median budgets represent a wide variety of facility types, acreage, geographical region and other factors, they represent a broad view.
Crew Salaries and Benefits
Assistant superintendents' salaries have also increased from $34,586 in 2005 to $37,032 in 2007; a 7 percent increase. Superintendents overwhelmingly indicate that assistant superintendents are salaried versus hourly employees.
All hourly wages for crew positions increased, with horticulturist hourly pay increasing the most since 2003. In 2007, the average size of a crew managed by golf course superintendents is 21, up slightly from 2003 and 2005 when a crew size of 20 was reported. Average hourly wages and trends for select crew members are illustrated below:
Reprints of this analysis or copies of the complete 2007 and 2005 Compensation and Benefits reports are available for purchase from GCSAA by calling 800-472-7878.