Want to learn more about how to put the 2021 Canadian Nonprofit Sector Salary & Benefits Report to work at your organization and in your career? Register now for our free webinar on February 21!
Editor’s Note: Click here to download the report’s Table of Contents and Executive Summary.
Compensation at nonprofits across the country continues to rise slowly for some nonprofit professionals, according to the new 2021 Canadian Nonprofit Sector Salary & Benefits Report. To better understand the most recent Canadian nonprofit compensation trends, we surveyed almost 900 participants who represented more than 10,000 individual employees from nonprofits across Canada. The results are gathered in our 2021 salary and benefits report, now available for online purchase.
The findings are helpful for both sides of the hiring equation: Hiring managers can compare their compensation offerings with other organizations of similar size, sector and location, while individuals can research salary and benefit packages by similar criteria to confidently discuss salary expectations with current and potential employers. We’ll discuss how both organizations and individuals can put the report to use at our free webinar on January 28.
Information in the report is generally broken out into six different job levels: Chief Executive, Senior Executive, Senior Management, Management/Supervisory Staff, Functional & Program Staff, and Support Staff. Cash compensation is broken out by job level, geographic region, profession, and organization size, type, and focus. The report also includes extensive information on incentive plans and non-cash benefits programs.
Here are some highlights from the 2021 edition:
Cash compensation continues to grow slowly, with some bumps along the way
Cash compensation has increased across all levels except for senior management since the last study was completed in 2018. This group saw a decrease in compensation of 1.4%. Looking at the sector in general, compensation is growing slowly. Over the nine-year period from 2011 to 2020, sector-wide compensation has grown at an average rate of 0.6% to 1.8% per year depending on the level.
Average compensation is generally tied to the organization’s focus
At all levels except for support staff, health-related organizations continue to lead the way in cash compensation. Arts & culture organizations sit (tied) at the top in compensation for functional and program staff, while social services organizations are the highest paying organizations for support staff.
Ottawa edges out GTA for highest compensation in most job levels
Large and major cities continue to lead the way in compensation for nonprofit sector workers. Ottawa has edged ahead of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as the market leader with the highest compensation for staff across all levels, with the exception of support staff, where Alberta ranks first.
Majority of organizations offer some benefits to some staff
Four in five (81%) participating organizations provide health benefits to at least one level of staff. Half (51%) of participating organizations offer retirement benefits to at least some of their employees. Primary health benefits include prescription drug plans, extended health care/major medical insurance, dental plans, benefit coverage for family & dependents, alternative therapy insurance, life insurance, vision care, employee assistance programs (EAP) and accidental death and dismemberment.
Both employees and organizations invest in education
The vast majority of nonprofit staff have some form of post-secondary education. The level of education continues to increase with seniority – the higher the management level, the higher the likelihood of having post-graduate and Masters-level education. As seen in past studies, higher education generally correlates to higher compensation, particularly if the degree/diploma is relevant to the job.
Between 74% and 79% of nonprofit staff receive education benefits, which is a shift from previous studies where functional or program staff and support staff were far less likely to receive education benefits.
Gender pay gap continues, especially at the Chief Executive level
The gap between compensation for men and women in the nonprofit sector continues to show men earning more than women at the most senior management level. Although the wage gap is relatively small (5% or less) for most levels, there remains a significant wage gap at the Chief Executive level, where average compensation is 26% higher among men than women. Consistent with past studies, the data continues to suggest that men working in the nonprofit sector are more likely than women to work in larger organizations, which tend to compensate at higher rates than smaller organizations.
Purchase your copy of the 2021 Canadian Nonprofit Sector Salary & Benefits Study today!
