The eLearning Guild has released the 2015 Global eLearning Salary & Compensation Report. Based on data received from more than 5,000 Guild members, the average base salary of an eLearning employee increased to $78,310 for the year 2014, which is up 2.5% from 2013. The report, free to Guild members at all levels from Associate to Premium, provides an in-depth analysis of trends in the industry and the multitude of factors that determine a person’s salary. 

Figure 1: Average eLearning salaries by continent and region, compared to the global average of $78,310. New Zealand and Netherlands are not included due to low record counts.

The 2015 Report includes global data reported directly from 5,127 Guild members during calendar year 2014. In addition to salary comparisons from previous years, readers will gain specific insights as to how variables such as industry, company size, job focus, employee designation, educational level, and gender affect salary outcomes. New in the report this year, are features and resources to help readers start salary research, access the Guild’s salary calculator, and develop an action plan for successful future negotiations.

Insights, trends, and planning for action

Specific insights from the 2015 Global eLearning Salary & Compensation Report include:

  • The average global base salary of $78,310 is a 2.5% increase from 2013; the average US base salary of $81,079 is a 2.7% increase from 2013.
  • Gender-based income disparities continue, both globally and within the United States.
  • The 2014 global average of full-time hours worked per week was 44.48 hours, which is unchanged from 2013.
  • Average global base salaries vary dramatically by region, with a high of $105,510 in Australia to a low of $29,236 in India.
  • Similarly, average US salaries vary dramatically among metropolitan areas, with a high of $101,410 in the California Bay Area to a low of $65,249 in the Detroit metro area.
  • Almost 54% of survey respondents received a merit increase, or pay raise, within the past year.

The report also highlights a number of key regional trends over a five-year period from 2011, specifically:

  • eLearning professionals in Australia continue to receive average salary rates higher than those of colleagues in Canada, the UK, and the US.
  • The United Kingdom reported the lowest average salaries over the five-year period, while Canadian salaries decreased an average of 5.44% during the previous year alone.
  • Salaries in the US have fluctuated slightly over the five-year period, with a current national average of $81,079 (the highest since 2011).
  • The average salary of an eLearning professional in India has declined from a high of $36,969 in 2011 to the current average of $29,236.

Employees in the consulting (non-computer) profession report salary averages that are 23.9% higher than the global average. As in years past, those working in the nonprofit, education (K-12 and university/college), and government (state and local) sectors report lower-than-average salaries. In terms of job focus, those responsible for executive management report a 79.6% increase above the global average salary. Those working in strategy and planning (38.9%), business unit management (31.9%), and sales/marketing/business development (28.2%) also report salaries above the global average.

The 2015 Global eLearning Salary & Compensation Report also includes a new and detailed section on action planning and outlines steps to help you make the most of the data and findings in the report. With links to guidelines, tools, and other helpful references, the resources in this part of the 2015 Report are sure to help you quantify your value and negotiate your way to success.

Online Salary Calculator

Using data from the 2015 Global eLearning Salary & Compensation Report, Learning Solutions Magazine has created the official online version of the Guild Research Salary Calculator. Use the calculator below to compute and compare baseline salaries for your own situation, then download the report to explore the data in greater detail.

 

About The eLearning Guild

The eLearning Guild is the oldest and most trusted source of information, networking, and community for eLearning professionals. As a member-driven organization, the Guild produces conferences, online events, online and blended training courses, eBooks, white papers, research reports, and Learning Solutions Magazine—all devoted to the idea that the people who know the most about making eLearning successful are the people who produce eLearning every day in corporate, government, and academic settings. Our goal is to create a place where eLearning professionals can share their knowledge, expertise, and ideas to build a better industry—and better learning experiences—for everyone.

Tap into the Guild’s vast well of expertise by becoming a member. For more information about membership levels and benefits, and to join The eLearning Guild, see the Membership Overview on our website.