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Survey Details

Methodology

The survey sample of 1,000 was selected by Red 7 Media and Readex Research and included all Folio: domestic subscribers classified as Editorial Management at the time of sample selection.

Data was collected via mail survey from April 6 to May 20, 2009.  The survey was closed for tabulation with 369 usable responses-a 37% response rate.  To ensure representation of the audience of interest, results have been filtered to include only the 320 respondents who indicated on the survey that they work full time and that their job functions are best described as editorial director or editor in chief; editor or executive editor; managing editor; or senior editor.

The margin of error for percentages based on all 320 respondents is ±4.7% at the 95% confidence level.

The Salary Calculator

The analysis of Folio:'s Editorial Management Salary Survey data used multiple regression analysis to model the determinants of salary by identifying those variables which, when taken together with appropriate weights, provide the best prediction of any individual’s actual salary.

The final salary prediction model is somewhat restricted in its applicability—it represents only full-time professionals who indicated their job functions are best described as editorial director or editor in chief, editor or executive editor, managing editor, or senior editor under 65 years old with salaries in the range of $25,000 to $210,000, whose salaries are at least 65% of their total compensation, and have no more than 40 years of experience.

Statistically speaking, this model is moderately powerful: it explains 51% of the variation in salary (adjusted R-square = .51), and is significant by the F-test at p<.0000.

While a model explaining roughly 51% of the dependent variable's variation may be described as "moderately powerful," it still leaves about 50% of the variation unexplained.  It is virtually certain that other variables not captured through this survey also have an effect on salary levels: individual job performance, for example.  To the extent that this model does not include variables actually important in determining salary, its conclusions must be interpreted cautiously.