Nonprofit salaries and benefits in British Columbia
February 12, 1996; Canadian FundRaiser
Volunteer Vancouver researched and produced the first Salaries and Benefits Survey for non-profit/charitable organizations in British Columbia in 1991. Providing comprehensive documentation on annual salaries and benefits for both executive and program staff, the 1995 Survey was expanded by researcher Christy Armstrong to include new questions related to planned salary increases, years of experience and levels of education. Distributed to 700 representative sector organizations, the questionnaire received a 25% valid response return with regional representation comprised of 56% in greater Vancouver, 32% on Vancouver Island, and 12% from the interior and Northern B.C.
Table 1 sets out the minimum, average (mean), middle (median), and maximum salary reported for each category of employee, by organization type. Table 2, including data from all categories of employees, shows the general vacation entitlements for all organization types.
Table 1: Average Salary, by Organization Type
| A - Senior Salaried Executive Reporting To Board |
| Organization Type | No. | Minimum | Mean | Median | Maximum |
| All | 154 | $12,780 | $46,932 | 42,800 | 190,000 |
| Health and Rehabilitation | 43 | $19,000 | $56,095 | 50,000 | 190,000 |
| Individuals and Families | 43 | $12,780 | $41,320 | 40,000 | 67,500 |
| Community and Neighbourhood | 51 | $18,000 | $44,067 | 40,000 | 99,000 |
| Planning and Information | 16 | $20,507 | $46,019 | 47,150 | 83,000 |
| Salaried Manager Reporting To 'A' |
| Organization Type | No. | Minimum | Mean | Median | Maximum |
| All | 116 | $16,800 | $37,857 | 35,185 | 100,000 |
| Health and Rehabilitation | 34 | $25,000 | $44,595 | 39,760 | 100,000 |
| Individuals and Families | 32 | $25,000 | $35,471 | 33,000 | 58,000 |
| Community and Neighbourhood | 34 | $18,300 | $34,666 | 34,500 | 68,000 |
| Planning and Information | 15 | $16,800 | $35,096 | 37,000 | 46,300 |
Table 2: Vacation Entitlements
| Years of Service |
| Weeks of Vacation | 0-3 Years. | 4-6 Years. | 7-10 Years. | 10+ Years. |
| | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2 or less | 57 | 33% | 3 | 2% | 2 | 2% | 2 | 2% |
| 3 | 82 | 48% | 69 | 45% | 17 | 13% | 7 | 6% |
| 4 | 27 | 16% | 71 | 46% | 73 | 56% | 47 | 39% |
| 5 | 2 | 1% | 6 | 4% | 32 | 24% | 35 | 29% |
| 6 or more | 3 | 2% | 4 | 3% | 7 | 5% | 29 | 24% |
Other findings of note:
- Of all reported staff members, 78% were female and 22% were male.
- The average increase to salaries in 1994/95 was 2%. (For 1994/95 BC's average rate of inflation was 2%).
- 28% of respondents were from the Health and Rehabilitation Services sector, 47% of whom work at the local level. More than half worked in organizations with a total agency revenue less than $1,000,000.
- 27% of respondents were from the Services for Individuals and Families sector, 74% of whom work at the local level. Some 66% worked in organizations with a total agency revenue less, or equal to, $500,000.
- 33% of respondents were from the Community and Neighbourhood Services sector, 63% of whom worked at the local level. Some 78% worked in organizations with a total agency revenue less than, or equal to, $1,000,000.
- 12% of respondents were from the Planning and Information Services sector, 48% of whom worked at the local level. Some 71% worked in organizations with a total agency revenue less than, or equal to, $500,000.
Survey copies are available at a cost of $29.00 by calling Volunteer Vancouver's Resource Library (604) 875-9144.
