The global median salary for heads of IR has climbed to $200,000, according to IR Magazine’s Global IR Salary and Careers Report 2022.
Exactly half of respondents earn below $199,999 and the other half receive $200,000 or above, finds the report, which is based on a survey of more than 650 IR professionals.
The survey asks heads of IR and IROs to say which pay bracket their salary falls into. Two years ago – the last time IR Magazine conducted research on industry compensation – the median pay for heads of IR was $150,000-$199,999.
For IROs, median pay stands at $75,000-$99,999, the same level as two years ago. ‘In fact, median IRO salaries have remained in the same pay bracket for the past five years,’ note the report authors.
Bonus payments
Turning to bonuses, the research finds that nine out of 10 heads of IR received a bonus in 2021, with the average size of the payout at 37 percent of base salary. A slightly lower proportion of IROs – 85 percent – received a bonus, with the average being 28 percent of base salary.
The survey comes amid a global hiring frenzy in the IR profession. The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with a surge in new companies coming to market, has led huge numbers of IROs to change roles over the last two years.
The full report breaks down salaries and bonuses by region and market capitalization. It also explores what roles IROs did before joining the profession, their level of IR training and any additional responsibilities held outside of IR. To find out more, click here.
