Your compensation benchmarks are out of date — and the candidates you want to hire already know it.
The compensation move is concentrated at PM level and above — Project Engineers have seen +12%, Assistant PMs +15%, PMs +18%, Senior PMs +22% since 2024. The driver is not wage inflation broadly; it is the EPC demand vector from the data center build cycle pulling a thin passive market. American Electric's current range ($125K–$140K base, $200K total cash) remains competitive at the 75th percentile — the risk is that the 75th percentile is itself moving, and offer windows are narrowing.
Compensation benchmarks
American Electric's current PM range — $125K–$140K base + bonus to $200K total cash — sits in the closing zone for strong Columbus-metro commercial electrical PMs. The market does not require a wholesale repricing; it requires process speed and decisive ownership engagement.
| 25th | Median | 75th | Top decile | Offer zone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $95K | $115K | $125K | $155K | $125K – $140K |
| Total cash | $110K | $135K | $160K | $185K | $150K – $200K |
| 25th | Median | 75th | Top decile | Offer zone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $58K | $72K | $86K | $98K | $75K – $90K |
| Total cash | $62K | $78K | $94K | $108K | $82K – $98K |
This tracker is a continuous signal feed, refreshed between briefings. The data behind Compensation Movement feeds directly into your standing recommendations and quarterly executive review.