Re:Big companies collude to hold down pay.
by yummyfajitas on Friday September 17, 2010 @07:59AM
(#1700803)
I don't think it adjusts for inflation. Adjusting for inflation, we have total comp per FTE worker of $49.8k in 1998 and $57k in 2009. But you are right, benefits don't explain the entire increase. Wages went up as well, from $47k to $52k (inflation adjusted).
(Using this inflation calculator: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/infl.cgi)
Also, since the article is about collusion between google and apple, we should really be comparing compensation for the best programmers. I admit, I have no idea whether that went up or not.
2000 non-wage compensation per employee is (Stats taken from your first link and 6.2C): (615,931 * 1,000,000) / (137,228 * 1,000) = 4,488 per employee
2009 non-wage compensation per employee is (Stats taken from your first link and 6.2D): (1,072,019 * 1,000,000) / (136,089 * 1,000) = 7,877 per employee
Your graph shows an increase of close to 20,000 from 2000 to 2009. If wages were stagnant, non-wage compensation doesn't explain this increase.
Edit to add: if you look at private companies only, which seems fair given this article is about collusion between private companies, the numbers are worse than those mentioned above:
2000: (424,680 * 1,000,000) / (114,597 * 1,000) = 3,705
2009: (690,975 * 1,000,000) / (136,089 * 1,000) = 5,077