Salaries

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The World Trade Organization’s most recent 2010 report shows that U.S. based corporations continue to lead as the biggest contributors to the international exchange of material goods, responsible for the import and export of more than $3.2 trillion in finished goods and raw materials that year. According to the International Trade Administration, service exports provided by American firms added an additional $530 billion to the U.S. export total for 2010.

As U.S. based and foreign owned corporations compete for access to the global consumer and commercial markets, they routinely offer salaries to professionals in their international divisions that are considerably higher than those in their domestic operations.

In its most recent report, released May 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the records maintenance division of the United States Department of Labor, showed salaries for some of the most common positions held by international business professionals. National averages for top paying industries are provided, along with state-specific earnings reports, linked to below:

Purchasing managers earned an average of $100,600 in 2010, while those working for exporters involved in the manufacture and distribution of apparel and other piece goods faired better, earning an average of $140,080 that year.

Transportation storage and distribution managers earned a national average of $86,630, while those working for companies involved in oil and gas extraction earned $134,560. Transportation storage and distribution managers employed in the automotive industry earned an average of $128,170 in 2010.

Nationally, sales managers earned an average of $114,110 in 2010. The highest paying sales mangers were involved in financial investment activities, earning an average of $168,120.

Economists earned an average of $99,350 in 2010. The best paying economists were involved in monetary authority-central banking, where they earned an average of $125,790, followed by those who facilitated depository credit intermediation, where the average was $125,790.

Marketing managers earned an average of $122,720 in 2010; however those who worked for oil and gas extraction companies earned $164,790 on average.

Market research analysts and marketing specialists earned average annual salaries of $66,850. The highest paying industries for these professionals were personal care services, where they earned an average of $113,920, followed by the aerospace product and parts manufacturing industry, which paid an average of $93,850.

The 2012 Robert Half Salary Guide, which serves as the singular resource for North American compensation trends in the finance, accounting and financial services fields, provided salary ranges based on years in service and job title.

Chief Financial Officers’ earnings are highly dependent on meeting sales goals and revenue projections. CFOs with companies that generate $500 million in yearly revenue earn between $275,000 and $411,000, while those with companies generating less than $50 million, typically earn between $96,750 and $136,000 each year.

For jobs in financial reporting:

  • Manager: $89,000 to $131,000
  • Senior: $70,750 to $97,250
  • 1 to 3 years: $56,000 to $74,750
  • Up to 1 year: $45,000 to $58,500

For compliance-related job positions:

  • Chief Compliance Officer: $105,000 to $214,250
  • Compliance Director: $89,750 to $170,750
  • Compliance Officer: $74,000 to $132,500
  • Senior Compliance Analyst: $60,500 to $99,750
  • Compliance Analyst: $47,000 to $79,750

For business analyst jobs:

  • Manager: $80,750 to $107,250
  • Senior: $68,500 to $89,250
  • 1 to 3 years: $52,500 to $72,000
  • Up to 1 year: $44,250 to $57,250

For general accounting jobs:

  • Manager: $59,500 to $104,250
  • Senior: $49,500 to $79,250
  • 1 to 3 years: $39,750 to $62,000
  • Up to 1 year: $35,250 to $49,500