Wage increases across Australia’s wine industry are higher than the national average wage increase, according to the 2019 National Wine Industry Salary and Benefits Survey.
The survey, released by the South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) covers more than 1900 employees from 39 companies across Australia’s wine industry. As well as the wage increase data the survey also provides detailed information on salary and benefits practices and trends across 57 common wine industry positions.
“Industry feedback is that the Salary Survey is critical to business planning practices and we will continue to deliver practical tools such as this to industry,” said SAWIA Chief Executive Brian Smedley.
“It’s part of our mission to provide leadership, advice and support to South Australian grape and wine businesses, to help them prosper.”
Incentive pay, including bonuses and commissions, continues to form a significant part of the remuneration package for a number of positions including sales representatives, chief winemakers, chief viticulturists and operations managers. For small businesses, however, incentive pay is less common.
The most commonly provided employee benefits include cars, fuel cards and professional subscriptions.
The 2019 survey is the 20th survey undertaken by SAWIA on behalf of the wine industry.
The survey is driven by SAWIA’s Employee Relations Committee to ensure the industry can access relevant and up to date salary data and information about salary practices.