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1977 SALARY SURVEY For Fulltime Park and Recreation Personnel in Illinois by Dr. William E. O'Brien, Chairman Recreation Department, Southern Illinois University Illinois Park and Recreation Association President Joe H. Doud, Executive Director Kay K. Forest and Research Committee Chairman Harold L. Robson asked this investigator to conduct a salary and fringe benefit study of Park and Recreation personnel in Illinois park districts. Since this investigator had conducted similar studies in previous years, it was decided to make a comparative study of the 1977 data with those of 1975; hopefully, studies will continue every two years so that trends may be noted. The purpose was to gather and analyze data relative to salary and selected fringe benefits deemed important by full-time Park and Recreation personnel in Illinois park districts. The findings in the study will provide the basis for conclusions in matters important enough to professionals so that they could:
1. Be current as to the present status of salaries and selected fringe benefits.
POPULATION INCLUDED IN THE STUDY There were 148 Park Districts invited to participate. The main criterion for inclusion was to have at least one full-time person in one of the established personnel categories as listed in the questionnaire. There were 102 questionnaires returned (70%); of these, the following qualified and were included:
In 1975 the return percent was 80. We were not as successsful in 1977 with a 70% return. It should be pointed out that there was some misunderstanding on the part of a few 1975 respondents as to what constituted a qualified rspondent. There were 248 questionnaires sent out in 1975 but in 1977 the questionnaires went only to those known to be qualified; hence, the difference in (Ns) in responses and various categories. This error will no longer occur.
One can easily note that 13 fewer responses were received in 1977. There were a fewer in the under 50 million category. This investigator suspects that some respondents in this category in 1975 increased in assessed valuation and moved into the 50-100 million category. The other categories were similar in responses in 1977 and 1975. PERSONNEL STUDIED Since the Park and Recreation field has many titles for the various positions, the researcher, with the assistance from President Doud and Executive Director Kay K. Forest, described the different positions in the questionnaire and asked the respondent to place his staff members in the most suitable position. These staff descriptions included:
1. Chief Executive of the Department
The respondents appeared to cooperate very well in placing their personnel in these categories. Where error was evident (or perhaps a difference in interpretation) the investigator used his judgement for placement. These cases were rare. It still must be remembered in reviewing the findings that the population in the study is not identical to 1975 because all of the 1977 population did not respond. Hopefully, we will one day have the exact populations. One other note, that is, the N's in the various categories changed also leading the investigator to suspect changes from 1975 assessed valuation categories to new ones in 1977 in which some park districts moved into higher assessed valuation recently. This action would affect the numbers of personnel in the various personnel categories. It is expected that these problems affect the findings. The reader is asked to accept the findings as current status report and to be used as a condition for planning, etc. The data analysis is in two parts: Part One—Salary; Part Two—Fringe Benefits which will appear in the next issue. In the tables presenting the salary data, both the 1977 and 1975 totals are presented for the reader's pleasure. Comparisons can be made between the two studies. Salaries are presented in terms of annual salary. COMPOSITE SALARIES The status of composite salaries of all personnel included in the study is presented in Table 1. These data are reported in the various personnel categories. There were 600 positions reported in 1975. There were 572 positions reported in 1977. Analysis of Table 1 reveals that gains in dollar amounts were made in 18 of the personnel salary categories; 6 personnel salary categories reflected losses. When reviewing the highest salary category for all positions, it can be noted that the highest gain in 1977 was $5,025 for supervisors of recreation, community centers, etc. The greatest loss in this same category was $6,500 for facility managers, etc. It may also be noted in the highest salary category that four of the personnel positions reported a gain and four reported losses. When reviewing the lowest salary category for all positions, it can be noted that the greatest gain was for the supervisor or foreman of park maintenance was $2,876. It can also be noted Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 January/February, 1978
that the greatest loss was $2,200 for the category of administrator in charge of park operations. In the lowest salary category it may also be noted that six of the personnel categories were reported to have had gains and two reported to have had losses. When reviewing the mean salary category for all personnel positions, it can be noted that the highest gain was $3,219 for administrators in charge of park operations. Gains were reported in all personnel categories for the mean salary in the comparitive study for salaries for full-time park and recreation personnel for 1975 and 1977. VALUATION OF UNDER $50,000,000 In Table 2 are presented data reported by departments having assessed valuations of under $50,000,000. In 1975 there were 54 personnel positions reported. In the 1977 study there were 44 personnel positions reported. Analysis of Table 2 reveals that gains in dollar amounts were made in 13 of the personnel salary categories; 6 personnel salary categories reflected losses. No data were reported for the specialists, naturalists and so forth. When reviewing the highest salary category for all positions, it can be noted that the highest gain in 1977 was $1,500 for the position of facility manager, ice, tennis and so forth. The greatest loss in this same personnel category was $2,890 for the assistant to the chief executive category. When reviewing the lowest salary category for all positions, it can be noted that the greatest gain was for the facility manager, ice, tennis, etc. and that gain was $6,750. It can also be noted that the greatest loss was $2,200 for the category of administrator in charge of park operations. When reviewing the mean salary for all personnel positions, it can be noted that the highest gain was $2,166 for supervisors or foremen of park maintenance. It can also be noted that the greatest loss was $326 in the category of supervisor of recreation, community centers and so forth. In the mean gain or loss status 5 of the 6 personnel categories indicated a gain; one reported a loss. VALUATION OF $5,000,000 to $100,000,000 In Table 3 are presented data reported by departments having assessed valuations of $50-100,000,000. In 1975 there were 140 personnel positions reported. In the 1977 study there were 127 personnel positions reported. Analysis of Table 2 reveals that gains in dollar amounts were made in 11 personnel salary categories; 12 personnel salary categories reflected losses. One remained the same. The investigator suspects that possibly some of the 1975 under $50,000,000 assessed valuation departments had moved into the over $50,000,000 to $100,000,000 assessed valuation categories and, therefore, influenced the data. When reviewing the highest salary category for all positions, it could be noted that the highest gain in 1977 was $5,647 for the position of administrator in charge of recreation. The greatest loss in this same category was $3,812 for the personnel category of specialist, naturalist, etc. Five of the eight personnel categories had gains and three did not. When reviewing the lowest salary category for all positions, it can be noted that the greatest gain was for the assistant to the chief executive and that gain was $800. It can also be noted that the greatest loss was $2,300 for the category of administrator in charge of facilities, ice, tennis, special facilities, etc. It is interesting to note that 6 of the reporting personnel categories
Illinois Parks and Recreation 13 January/February, 1978
indicated losses as compared with one gain. Again, some of the 1975 under 50,000,000 assessed valuation departments may have moved into the 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 category and thereby influenced the status. When reviewing the mean salary category for all personnel positions, it can be noted that the highest gain was $2,313 in the personnel position of assistant to the chief executive. It can also be noted that the greatest loss proved to be $3,153 for the position of chief executive in the mean gain or loss category. It is interesting to note here that 5 of the 3 categories reported gains as compared with 3 who reported losses. VALUATION OF $100-200,000,000 In Table 4 are presented data reported by departments having assessed valuations of $100,000,000 to 200,000,000. In 1975 there were 141 personnel positions reported. In the 1977 study there were 158 personnel positions reported. Analysis of Table 4 reveals that gains in dollar amounts were made in 18 personnel salary categories; 6 personnel salary categories reflected losses. It is interesting to note that in the mean gain or loss category all 8 personnel categories reflected a gain in dollar amounts. When reviewing the highest salary category for all positions, it can be noted that the highest gain in 1977 was $6,385 for the position of supervisor or foreman of park maintenance. The greatest loss in this category was $5,000 for the facility managers, ice, tennis, and so forth. When reviewing the lowest salary category for all positions, it can be noted that the greatest gain was for the position of administrator in charge of park operations. It can also be noted that the greatest loss was $1000 for the category of administrator in charge of recreation. It is interesting to note that 6 of the reporting personnel categories indicated gains as compared with two reporting losses. When reviewing the mean salary category for all personnel positions it can be noted that the highest gain was $2,162 in the personnel position of chief executive. It is interesting to note that all 8 of the personnel categories reflected a gain in the mean 1977 salaries compared with 1975. VALUATION OF OVER $200,000,000 In Table 5 are presented the data reported by departments having assessed valuations of over $200,000,000. In 1975 there were 265 personnel positions reported. In the 1977 study there were 243 personnel positions reported. Analysis of Table 5 reveals that gains in dollar amounts were made in 18 personnel salary categories; six personnel salary categories reflected losses. When reviewing the highest salary category for all positions, it can be noted that the highest gain in 1977 was $5,025 for the position of supervisor of recreation, community centers, and so forth. The greatest loss in the same category was $6,500 for the personnel category of facility managers, ice, tennis, special facilities, etc. Four of the personnel categories reflected gains and four reflected losses. When reviewing the lowest salary category for all positions, it can be noted that the greatest gain was for the chief executive and that gain was $5,304. It can also be noted that the greatest loss was $182 for the category of specialist naturalist, horticulturist, etc. It is interesting to note that seven categories reflected gains and one reflected a loss. When reviewing the mean salary category for all personnel
Illinois Parks and Recreation 14 January/February, 1978
positions, it can be noted that the highest gain was $4345 in the personnel position of administrator in charge of park operations. It can also be noted that the greatest loss proved to be $58 for the position of supervisor or foreman of park maintenance. Seven of the ten categories reflected gains and one reflected a loss when considering the mean. SUMMARY OF SALARY FINDINGS
It would be easier to see the true picture if all departments had reported. For example, in personnel reported, we had 600 in 1975; in 1977 we had 572. Yet, we had 13 fewer departments reporting in 1977. Had some of the departments not reporting been in the $100-200,000,000 this figure might be quite different in terms of more personnel in 1977. We now note that there are also many different types of facility managers. Particularly in the $100,000,000-0ver $200,000,000 categories. This investigator will rework the data for a more precise presentation for this situation. A special report will be made to the Illinois professionals relative to the type manager and their salaries. The reader can note that gains are reported consistantly for most of the categories especially in the mean salaries. For example, the composite mean is 100% gain in 1977. (Editor's note: Part 2, Fringe Benefits will appear in the March/April issue. The JPRA Board expresses its sincere appreciation to Dr. O'Brien for his research on the Salary Study.) Illinois Parks and Recreation 15 January/February, 1978 |
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