First-Ever Compensation Survey Confirms International Automakers Offer Rewarding Careers, are Driving Wages and Benefits Across the United States

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Autos Drive America released the findings of its Production Line Worker Compensation Survey today, assessing the wages and compensation, benefits, working conditions, and diversity at affiliated manufacturing facilities. The first-of-its-kind survey found international automakers offer competitive career opportunities that are essential to building and growing the middle class. Additionally, the data show that international automakers’ advanced manufacturing positions are helping drive standards throughout the U.S. automotive industry.

“This survey confirms what many already knew – international automakers’ continued investment in their U.S. workforce and operations is resulting in high wages and great benefits,” said Jennifer Safavian, President and CEO of Autos Drive America. “Our facilities are driving industry workplace standards and delivering on the Biden Administration’s goals to create good-paying, highly skilled middle-class jobs in the U.S. automotive industry. But these are more than just jobs—they are careers that provide stability and opportunity for individuals, families, and communities.”

According to the Autos Drive America Production Line Worker Compensation Survey, international automakers offered competitive wages and benefits that were comparable to, and even exceeded, industry counterparts, including Detroit-based automakers and other American electric vehicle manufacturers:

• International automakers offered higher hourly wages for starting positions than industry counterparts—$19.02 compared to between $18.50¹ and $17.51.² Average production worker hourly wages ($24.70) were higher than the industry average, too ($24.53).
• International automaker employees achieved upper-level wage rates ($28.01 on average) in an average of six years. Industry counterparts reached upper-level wages in an average of 8-9 years.³
• All surveyed facilities provided health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance and covered an average of 90% of health care premiums.
• International automakers offered an average of 25 days of paid time off on top of paid holidays and other leave benefits, including fully paid parental leave.
• 95% of facilities provided annual educational assistance to employees ranging from $4,000 to $7,500.

“With 500 facilities nationwide, international automakers have far-reaching economic impacts, especially in the communities where they operate,” said Safavian. “Our members know that when employees are well compensated with financial stability and career advancement opportunities, their families and communities are better for it.”

The Autos Drive America Production Line Worker Compensation Survey found that international automakers hire diverse workforces, have good working conditions, and offer onsite amenities:

• 34% of workers identify as African American, compared to 18% for the general population of the nine⁴ states in the survey. 9% of workers identify as two or more races, compared to 2% of workers in the states where facilities are located.
• Team leads have an average tenure of 118 months (about 10 years), followed by skilled trade workers, with approximately 104 months (9 years), and production workers at 88 months (just over 7 years).⁵
• Facilities also reported low injury rates and offer onsite amenities, like cafeterias (100%), medical care (95%), and gyms (80%).

“International automakers have been present in the U.S. for 60 years, and our priority has always been the American workforce—from creating safe, stable working conditions to closing wage gaps and revitalizing communities,” Safavian added. “This report confirms that international automakers make more than just cars. They are driving opportunities, investing in American workers, and making communities stronger nationwide.”

The study was produced by Ernst & Young LLC and surveyed 20 Autos Drive America affiliated production facilities from 11 different manufacturers in nine states. The nine states include Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

¹Source: Tesla Production Associate job postings. https://www.tesla.com/careers/search/job/production-associate-gigafactory-nevada-118466

² Source: 2019 United Auto Workers (UAW) contracts with Ford Motor Company (Ford), General Motors Company (GM), and Stellantis N.V., starting wage rate accounting for the 3% wage increase effective September 14, 2020. See https://uaw.org/uaw-auto-bargaining/  (specific page references for each contract, Ford, p. 342; GM, p. 244; Stellantis, MOU M-13.) This figure does not include the cost of membership dues, which equates to 2 or 2.5 hours of straight time pay monthly. See https://uaw.org/dues-faq/

³ Source: 2019 United Auto Workers (UAW) contracts with Ford Motor Company (Ford), General Motors Company (GM), and Stellantis N.V., starting wage rate accounting for the 3% wage increase effective September 14, 2020. See https://uaw.org/uaw-auto-bargaining/  (specific page references for each contract, Ford, p. 342; GM, p. 244; Stellantis, MOU M-13.) This figure does not include the cost of membership dues, which equates to 2 or 2.5 hours of straight time pay monthly. See https://uaw.org/dues-faq/

³ Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

⁴ For context, the average age of the surveyed facilities is approximately 20 years.

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CONTACT: Blair Gremillion (985) 705-8560