How do your pay and benefits stack up in York County? This new job info site tells you
Looking for a new job or to renegotiate a contract? It helps to know what’s out there. Now, pay and benefits information for York County companies is easier to find.
A new York County Economic Development survey shows where wages are up and what incentives businesses are using to bring in workers. More than 60 companies that responded employ over 7,700 workers. The information leans heavily toward manufacturing, but also covers warehousing and distribution.
Here are some highlights of the study. For more details, visit yorkcountyed.com.
Wages are up, including for new workers
The average entry-level wage of $18.06 an hour is 4.9% higher than it was last year. It’s up more than $3 an hour from three years ago, when it was $14.70. The top entry-level pay surveyed companies are shelling out is $27.55, up from $22 last year.
Overall, skilled and unskilled hourly wages increased since last year.
So did earnings for unskilled temporary or contract workers. The only dip this year came for skilled workers on temporary contracts. That average hourly wage dropped to $20.28, from $20.85 last year.
Production managers, engineers earn top pay
The $45.53 an hour for production managers is the highest pay rate for 19 occupations listed in the survey. Pay is up 2% in a year and a study-high 32% in five years.
Industrial or manufacturing engineers were next at $44.81, up 9% from last year and 24% in five years. Warehouse managers made $37.53 an hour, up 4% since last year and 28% in five years.
On the other end, metal treatment operators made $14.85 an hour. That’s a 34% drop from $22.47 last year and a 27% drop in five years.
Warehouse laborers earning $17.76 an hour and painters at $18.04 an hour also ranked near the bottom of the pay scale. Laborers were down 1% in a year but up 22% in five years. Painters dropped 14% from last year but saw a 3% increase in five years.
The biggest hourly pay gains since last year came for engineers (9%), quality inspectors (7%) and warehouse shipping employees 5%. The biggest drops were metal treatment operators (-34%), fabricators (-18%) and painters (-14%).
Performance pay and time off are big for employees
The study asked workers to rank the most important benefits their companies could offer. Incentive pay or performance bonuses were easily the most popular. Paid maternity leave was next, followed by paid paternity or family leave.
The least important to surveyed workers were senior care programs, paid volunteer days and workplace amenities like pool tables or espresso machines.
Unpaid family leave, paid maternity leave and paid paternity leave increased the most in popularity compared to three years ago. Tuition reimbursement and health or wellness programs grew the least.
Bonus pay trending upward
Four in five companies offer bonuses or profit sharing. Last year 76 % of companies did. The figure has been on a steady increase since dipping to 66% in 2021.
The average percentage of their base pay on those bonuses was 11% for salaried workers and 6% for hourly ones. Hourly workers have been at 5% or 6% each year since 2017. Salaried workers have grown from 7% seven years ago.
Quick hits from the economic development study
▪ York County’s 3.4% unemployment rate as of July is lower than the state and national rates.
▪ Job openings continue to drop, down 65% in a year with administrative and management jobs most often impacted.
▪ Production companies saw decreased need of workers with two- and four-year degrees, but increased need for post-high school specialty certificates.
▪ Employers participation in worker training programs has grown 4% annually the past three years.
▪ Employee communication and overwork are the top-listed reasons for employee turnover, and the fastest-growing causes.
