Political Action Committee
Executive Compensation and
Benefits Study
Published by
National Association of Business
Political Action Committee
June 2012
Public Opinion Strategies conducted an online survey of 148 political action committee (PAC) and
political affairs executives, March 12-23, 2012 on behalf of the National Association of Business
Political Action Committees (NABPAC). Gene Ulm and Robert Blizzard of Public Opinion Strategies
were the pollsters and primary researchers on the project.
The survey respondents were generally female, nearly 70 percent fell between the ages of 25-44
and most have been with their respective PAC between four and 12 years. Further, they are highly
educated with graduate and post-graduate degrees, and fully 40 percent said they are registered
lobbyists. Looking at past experience, a plurality has worked on political campaigns or has previous
legislative experience.
The majority of survey respondents have the title “Director” or “Manager.” Due to the small size of
most PACs, 55 percent of respondents supervise fewer than three employees. The overwhelming
majority indicate they report to a Vice President or Senior Vice President.
Interestingly, working with their organization's PAC is not their only job. In fact, participants in the
survey indicate they have several responsibilities including issue advocacy, lobbying, grassroots
and administrative functions. While most of their time is spent on PAC-related activities, respondents
want more of their time spent on lobbying and other government affairs functions.
The survey found that the average salary for this sample group is approximately $121,000, with 60
percent receiving some form of performance compensation. Looking closer, as one gets older, has
more experience, or becomes a lobbyist, annual income levels rise, nearly doubling entry-level
salaries. Nearly all participants indicate their employer provides medical benefits and fully 70
percent say their employer pays all or most of their health insurance premiums.
PAC executives state they are very satisfied with their total compensation package. There is a strong
sense that their total compensation is about the same as that of their peers. Moreover,
most are confident they will continue working for their organization for at least the next year.
There is also a high degree of confidence that they will receive a pay increase in the next year.
Finally, there is a strong sense that the job market for PAC executives is "good."
i
Executive Summary..........................................................................................................................i
Who Are PAC Executives..................................................................................................................2
Work Experience..................................................................................................................................3
Job Responsibilities.............................................................................................................................4
Salary and Compensation.............................................................................................................5-6
Health Insurance and
Other Benefits...........................................................................................................................................7
Job Satisfaction......................................................................................................................................8
Acknowledgements..............................................................................................................................9
About NABPAC............................................................................................................................................9
We are grateful to the NABPAC Survey Working Group members, Public Opinion Strategies and
Sagac Public Affairs who supported this research and report. Their contributions have enabled us
to continue the important work of the Association and to promote meaningful information for
political action committee professionals.
1
Who are PAC Executives?
94%
Most indicate they work
for a corporation
work for a corporation
20%
11%
8%
2
have a college or graduate degree
College/University graduate or higher
58%
College/University incomplete
High school graduate
94%
5%
1%
work for an association
of corporate members
work for an association
of individual members
69%
are between ages 25-44
51%
have worked for their specific PAC
for 4 – 12 years
work for an association of individual
and corporate members
Work Experience
60%
have been employed in the PAC market for 4 – 12 years
54%
describe their current position as
PAC Director or Manager
49%
45%
have experience working on
political campaigns
have legislative experience
working in a state or U.S. Capitol
3
Job Responsibilities
As a percentage of time, PAC
executive activities include:
Even
Time is relatively evenly divided
between many different areas
PAC-related activities 42%
17% Lobbying
17% Other administrative
functions
10% Grassroots
66%
4
report directly to a vice president or
senior vice president
68%
run the PACs with one to two employees
55%
supervise 3 employees or fewer
Salary and Compensation
Performance compensation is divided into three areas
98%
14%
1%
receive year-end bonus
receive ongoing incentive
receive commission for funds raised
59%
receive performance
compensation in addition
to base salary
41%
receive a fixed salary
with no bonus
5
Salary and Compensation
Salaries for PAC executives
nearly double toward the end
of the age spectrum
18-34:
35-44:
45-54:
55+:
$91,000
$125,000
$148,300
$172,800
Higher salaries are commensurate
with the amount of time an
executive works for a PAC (2-3 yrs)
Less than 2 years:
2-3 years:
4-12 years:
13+:
$111,200
$95,000
$127,500
$147,300
*More recent hires are rewarded
with more compensation
6
Health Insurance
99%
of employers provide
medical benefits
86%
70%
of PAC executives receive all or most of payment for medical benefits from employer
of PAC executives participate
in employer-sponsored
medical benefits
7
Job Satisfaction
91%
73%
are satisfied with their
compensation packages
8
Better
$115,000
Worse
$122,000
About the Same
91%
believe they will receive a pay increase
70%
believe the job market for
PAC executives is good
feel their compensation is better or
about the same as their peers
Average Salary
$127,000
83%
22%
28%
51%
are confident they will work for their
respective organization for at least
one year
73%
are confident they will work for their
respective organization for at least
one year
NABPAC gratefully acknowledges the contributions of 2012 President Hannah Simone of the Nuclear
Energy Institute and the NABPAC Board of Directors whose support made this report possible. For
their leadership as Survey Working Group members, input and help generating responses, we thank
Linda Auglis of the National Beer Wholesalers Association, Maurie Dugger of Edison Electric Institute,
Meaghan Killion Joyce of International Paper and Scott Reiter of the National Association of Realtors.
We also thank Trey Richardson, Jordan Edmund and Tim Taylor of Sagac Public Affairs for project and
records management, as well as Billy Oorbeek of The Oorbeek Group and Jody Thomas of Tour de
Force Group for their generosity in sharing their data files.
NABPAC is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1977. NABPAC is the nation's only organization
dedicated to promoting, defending and professionalizing PACs and political action professionals. From its
founding, NABPAC has been dedicated to the premise that voluntary contributions to candidates, Parties and
other political entities provide the critical resources necessary for pro-business candidates to carry their
messages to voters.
NABPAC's mission has evolved with the maturation and sophistication of the business PAC community. In its
early years, NABPAC promoted the need for corporations to form "separate segregated funds" (colloquially
known as PACs). During the 1980s and 1990s, NABPAC fought to preserve PACs as they faced challenges from
a "reform" community that sought their elimination. As PACs have demonstrated their viability and become
more widely accepted as sources of funding for congressional candidates, NABPAC has expanded
educational training programs for members in four critical areas: communications, compliance, fundraising
and strategic planning. Now in its fourth decade of existence, NABPAC offers a comprehensive series of
educational offerings through an annual conference, eight annual PACRap luncheons, six annual webinars,
and regular special briefings on topics of concern. Members also are provided unparalleled opportunities
to receive timely, insightful input from legal and PAC professionals through the Legal Hotline and PAC Help
Hotline, and a formal Mentor Program.
NABPAC's history is a tribute to the visionary business leaders who started with a simple idea in 1977. NABPAC's
future is dedicated to building on this rich tradition and providing America's business community with ready
access to innovative, best-in-class strategic PAC management tools.
To find out more about NABPAC, please visit www.nabpac.org or contact
Executive Director Geoff Ziebart directly at (202) 341-3780.
National Association of Business Political Action Committees
101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Suite L-110
Washington, DC 20001
O: (202) 341-3780
F: (202) 478-0342
[email protected]
9
101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Suite L-110
Washington, DC 20001
O: (202) 341-3780
F: (202) 478-0342
[email protected]