MCC salaries lower than private sector, consultant says

Salaries for nonteaching staff at McHenry County College are 15 to 30 percent lower on average than those of their counterparts in the private sector, a consultant told college officials on Tuesday.

Jeff Ling, executive vice president of Florida-based Evergreen Solutions LLC, gave the committee of the whole an update about the classification and compensation study the company has been working on. The survey focused on administrative, classified and professional staff only, no teachers or educators, which represents “a few hundred” employees, said Christina Haggerty, director of marketing and public relations for the college.

All job descriptions were compared to employees’ actual jobs as described by the employees and their supervisors, and then compared to equivalent jobs at 19 colleges — most within a 100-mile round trip from MCC — and in the private sector, Ling said.

When compared to other colleges, MCC pay ranges are almost 12 percent below the market average minimum, just more than 5 percent below the market average midpoint, nearly 3 percent below the market average maximum.

When compared to the private sector, MCC employees make between 15 to 30 percent less than their peers at the minimum and maximum ranges respectively, he said.

“You’re roughly competitive with a number of other public entities, but you’re still not competitive with private (ones),” he said. Ling said he took into account that benefits in the public sector are usually more generous than those in the private sector.

Board chairwoman Mary Miller and Trustee Dennis Adams said there were surprised to hear that MCC employees make less than those in the private sector. A survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says public sector employees make 34 percent more than those in the private sector, Miller said.

Ling replied he used data purchased from a research institute, and did careful comparison of job descriptions and classifications, which is not done by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A comprehensive study also needs to compare benefits, he added.

The final report — along with recommendations and projected costs — will be ready for the July 26 board meeting, Ling said.