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2000 Infection Control Salary Survey

Healthcare Purchasing News - August 1, 2000

Infection control practitioners feel well-read but undervalued

Healthcare Purchasing News' 2000 survey of infection control practitioners showed that despite attaining some of the highest education levels among hospital employees, most are still making less than $40,000 per year.

And they're not happy about it. Nearly four in five more than 78% -- said they believe they're not paid what they're worth. Most received raises in the 20% to 4% range last year, but almost one in four didn't receive a raise at all.

Only 9% received a bonus last year. Of those who did, most said it was less than $1,000.

Salaries topped out near $75,000. At the other end, nearly one-fourth of all respondents said they are making less than $30,000 per year. The median salary fell into the $35,000 to $40,000 range.

"Administrators don't really often understand the breadth, as well as the depth, of what a good practitioner does, is required to do or could do," said Diana Korpal, a veteran infection control consultant and the infection control nurse at Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana in Indianapolis. "They only know they need us when the state board of health comes around, but are not usually aware of how an effective program can save lives as well as costs."

Korpal said having to justify one's position under hospitals' increasing financial pressures has forced stricter assessment of actual job functions. This assessment process can heighten an infection control practitioners' perception of being undervalued.

"We've had to justify our existence. As budgets and positions are cut, we might get another department's job added to ours, which gives us twice the responsibility, but there's no money to train you or increased salary. They [hospitals] look at cutting non-essentials, and that may mean non-revenue-generating departments," she added.

"We're not revenue-generating, but we certainly feel we are essential," she said. "We also can be a revenue-saving function program. If an ICP wants a good deal, instead of a raise, ask for a percentage of the dollars you can save in products, product evaluations and eliminating useless procedures. You can save a large facility tens of thousands of dollars."

Overall, formal education levels for infection control practitioners were higher than for three other focus groups polled by Healthcare Purchasing News this spring: material management, central service and operating room managers. Seventy percent of infection control respondents had completed an undergraduate college degree, while another 20% had earned a post-graduate degree.

The field still is overwhelmingly dominated by women: Just 4% of the respondents were male.

The survey polled 200 infection control practitioners around the country earlier this year, with a response rate of 14%. Results were tabulated by Wyoming Research Associates, Casper, WY.

Infection control salaries

Infection control practitioners are among the most highly educated clinicians in hospitals, with nearly 90% obtaining either undergraduate or post-graduate college degrees. Yet more than half (57%) still earn less than $40,000 a year. That may be the leading reason nearly four out five (78%) don't feel they are paid what they are worth.

Do you believe you are paid what you're worth?

No 78%

Yes 20%

No answer 1%

What is your highest level of formal education?

Undergraduate college degree 70%

High school/GED 9%

Post-graduate college degree 20%

No answer 1%

Note: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding

Source: Healthcare Purchasing News, 2000

What is your current salary?

Less than $30,000 23%

$30,001 to $35,000 17%

$35,001 to $40,000 17%

$40,001 to $45,000 10%

$45,001 to $50,000 10%

$50,001 to $55,000 10%

$55,001 o $60,000 3%

$60,001 to $65,000 1%

$65,001 to $70,000 1%

$70,001 to $75,000 1%

No answer 4%

What was your salary increase between 1999 and 2000?

2% to 4% 48%

0 25%

Less than 2% 19%

5% to 7% 4%

8% to 10% 1%

11% to 15% 1%

No answer 1%

What was your bonus last year?

$0 90%

Less than $1,000 7%

$1,000 to $5,000 1%

No answer 1%

What is your gender?

Female 96%

Male 4%

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