December 1999

Address contributions for "CHP Corner" or CHP News to:
GARY KEPHART, CHP CIH
Work: 217-935-8881 x4211
Fax: 217-935-4279
Email: Gary_Kephart@illinova.com
STEVE RIMA CHP CSP
Work: 970-248-6787
Email: steven.rima@doegjpo.com
Or by submitting online at http://hps1.org/chpnews/submit.htm--Webmaster

THE 1999 CHP SALARY SURVEY

( Revised 1/20/00)

Gary Lautenschlager

Introduction

This year marks the first time the survey was available on the Internet, which greatly simplified the process for everyone. A notice directing the AAHP membership to complete the survey at the AAHP website was included with the AAHP maintenance fee notice, which was mailed in August.

{short description of image}The survey was also available in hardcopy form for those who preferred to fax or mail their responses.

Questions about this survey should be directed to Gary Lautenschlager, via email: glauten@hotmail.com Telephone: (630) 840-8360 (W) or (815) 748-4539 (H). You may also post your questions and comments on the AAHP Bulletin Board at the AAHP website: http://www.aahp-abhp.org

Data Analysis

The salary ranges marked by CHPs on the completed survey forms were rounded to the midpoints of those ranges before statistical analyses were performed. For example, if a CHP marked the salary range $50,000 to $54,999, their salary was rounded to the midpoint value of $52,500.

Responses from CHPs who were either part time or retired were not analyzed, since the data did not appear to allow meaningful comparisons to be made.

Data Presentation

In an effort to make the results of the survey as interesting and useful as possible, CHPs were subcategorized in several ways by education, primary job responsibility, years of experience, and combinations of these subcategories.

Readers are cautioned that for statistical validity, results were usually given only if there were 10 or more CHPs within that subcategory. Data presented for one subcategory of CHPs may not be possible for another subcategory. However, some exceptions were made for general interest.

The subcategories in the tables may also change from year to year, depending on the number of responses received. Every effort was made to keep the subcategories consistent with previous surveys, but if there were an insufficient number of CHPs the results were not given.

Tables and Figures

Tables show results for full-time CHPs who received health, vacation, and retirement benefits from their primary employer unless otherwise noted.

Histograms of Table 1 data is included as Figure 1, and Table 2, Masters Health Physics data is included as Figure 2.

Table 1: All CHPs

All CHPs

Count

Average

Median

Max

Min

Std Dev
CHPs 253 $80,818 $77,500 $162,500 $27,500 $19,334
Table 2: CHPs by Education and Field

Education

Count

Average

Median

Max

Min

Std Dev
Bachelors Health Physics 19 $79,868 $77,500 $122,500 $62,500 $15,126
Bachelors Other Field 25 $77,700 $77,500 $122,500 $57,500 $13,500
Masters Health Physics 118 $80,081 $77,500 $142,500 $27,500 $18,449
Masters Other Field 37 $75,338 $72,500 $132,500 $47,500 $17,738
Ph.D. Health Physics 22 $87,727 $82,500 $132,500 $42,500 $23,067
Ph.D. Other Field 28 $89,821 $82,500 $162,500 $42,500 $26,158
Table 3: CHPs by Education and 6-10 Years Experience

Edu & 6-10 Yrs Experience

Count

Average

Median

Max

Min

Std Dev
Masters Health Physics 17 $64,559 $62,500 $92,500 $57,500 $8,489
Masters Other Field 9 $61,944 $62,500 $77,500 $47,500 $10,138
Table 4: CHPs by Education and 11-15 Years Experience

Edu & 11-15 Yrs Experience

Count

Average

Median

Max

Min

Std Dev
Masters Health Physics 27 $71,759 $72,500 $97,500 $27,500 $14,392
Table 5: CHPs by Education and 16-25 Years Experience

Edu & 16-25 Yrs Experience

Count

Average

Median

Max

Min

Std Dev
Bachelors Other Field 12 $76,667 $75,000 $87,500 $57,500 $10,188
Masters Health Physics 49 $80,969 $77,500 $117,500 $52,500 $15,042
Masters Other Field 12 $76,250 $72,500 $102,500 $57,500 $12,990
Ph.D. Health Physics 9 $89,722 $82,500 $127,500 $77,500 $17,341
Ph.D. Other Field 10 $93,500 $90,000 $132,500 $67,500 $18,529
Table 6: CHPs by Education and NRRPT

Education & NRRPT

Count

Average

Median

Max

Min

Std Dev
Bachelors Health Physics 10 $75,000 $77,500 $87,500 $62,500 $7,546
Bachelors Other Field 10 $77,000 $75,000 $87,500 $62,500 $7,976
Masters Health Physics 11 $78,864 $77,500 $97,500 $52,500 $14,158
Table 7: Masters Health Physics and Primary Employer

Masters Health Physics
& Primary Employer

Count

Average

Median

Max

Min

Std Dev
Commercial 15 $95,133 $92,500 $142,000 $62,500 $22,275
Federal Government 12 $77,083 $75,000 $107,500 $57,500 $15,588
Government Contractors 13 $75,192 $72,500 $107,500 $57,500 $14,946
National Laboratory 21 $84,643 $82,500 $127,500 $62,500 $15,935
Nuclear Power Facility 15 $85,500 $82,500 $122,500 $62,500 $19,893
State Government 9 $69,167 $67,500 $92,500 $27,500 $20,000
University 12 $70,833 $67,500 $92,500 $52,500 $13,707
Table 8: Masters Other Field and Primary Employer

Masters Other Field
& Primary Employer

Count

Average

Median

Max

Min

Std Dev
National Laboratory 9 $84,167 $82,500 $102,500 $57,500 $12,748
Table 9: Masters Health Physics and Primary Job Responsibility

Masters Health Physics & Primary Job Responsibility

Count

Average

Median

Max

Min

Std Dev
Administration 14 $96,750 $92,500 $142,000 $67,500 $21,208
Applied Health Physics 28 $79,821 $77,500 $132,500 $57,500 $18,078
Dosimetry 10 $79,000 $77,500 $92,500 $57,500 $12,259
Radiation Safety Officer 14 $73,214 $72,500 $102,500 $52,500 $14,657
Regulations/Standards 9 $83,611 $82,500 $102,500 $67,500 $11,396
Table 10: CHPs with Medical Physics as Primary Job Responsibility

Medical Physics Primary Job

Count

Average

Median

Max

Min

Std Dev
Medical Physics CHPs 12 $92,083 $92,500 $162,500 $62,500 $28,720

Figure 1: Histogram of Table 1 Data{short description of image}

Figure 2: Histogram of Table 2 Data, Masters Health Physics CHPs{short description of image}

The Optional Question

The number and quality of comments were better this year than ever before. The convenience of submitting comments on the Internet perhaps encouraged many to provide thoughtful comments on the optional question "What do you feel is the most important issue facing the health physics certification process today?"

Many CHPs were concerned with exam consistency from year to year, the value of certification, the future of our profession, reciprocity agreements with other safety certifying organizations, and the job market.

All of your comments have been forwarded to the AAHP for review.

Closing Comments

Thanks all who contributed to this survey, your input is invaluable. Special thanks to Scott Medling who coded the survey and made it available on the Internet.