GCSAA survey shows rise in salaries for golf course superintendents
Assistant superintendents, equipment managers also see increased compensation
Lawrence, Kan.– Employers of golf course superintendents continue to reinforce the value they place in golf course facility leaders as the average annual salary for the profession climbed to more than $93,000 in 2019.
The average salary and additional data come from the latest biennial Compensation and Benefits Report from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). The 2019 report showed that the $93,176 average salary was an increase of 4.5 percent over the 2017 report, continuing the trend of increases in every two-year period since GCSAA began tracking the data in 1993. Superintendents’ salaries have more than doubled in the last quarter century since that first report, when the average salary was $44,500.
Certified golf course superintendents, those who have achieved the highest level of recognition through education, experience and service, saw an increase of more than 1 percent over 2017. Their average salary rose to $111,250, an increase of $1,630 over 2017.
Assistant superintendents and golf course equipment managers also saw increases in their incomes. Assistant salaries rose 7.3 percent, and equipment managers saw a 7 percent increase from the average salary two years ago.
“It is heartening to see golf course owners continue to invest in golf course superintendents and their staffs,” said Rhett Evans, GCSAA CEO. “They know the value of these highly educated professionals who oversee the golf facility’s top asset.”
The report also gives a good picture of the profile of GCSAA superintendents and their operations. The average age of a superintendent is 46.5 years, and they have spent 16.4 years in the profession. The average number of years superintendents have spent in their current position stayed steady at 10.5 years.
Between December 2018 and January 2019, the association research firm Industry Insights sent the 2019 survey to all GCSAA Class A and Class B members and the response rate was 45 percent, with a margin of error of +/-1.3 percent and a 95 percent level of confidence.
More information about the 2019 Compensation and Benefits Report is available at gcsaa.org.
About GCSAA and the EIFG
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) is a leading golf organization in the United States. Its focus is on golf course management, and since 1926 GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the U.S. and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 18,000 members in more than 78 countries. The association’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org,or find us on Facebookor Twitter. Visit our industry-leading magazine at GCMonline.com.
The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA. Its mission is to foster sustainability through research, awareness, education, programs and scholarships for the benefit of golf course management professionals, golf facilities and the game. Visit EIFG at www.eifg.org, or find us on Facebookor Twitter.
