Exploring Lean Six Sigma Salary Trends

Whether you are contemplating acquiring a Lean Six Sigma Certification, a newly minted member, or a battle-tested veteran,  it's worth a prospective look at the Continuous Improvement trends. As businesses continue to seek competitive advantages, the trends from 2015 reflect the rising demand for continuous improvement specialists.

Market and Salary Trends:
A recent article from Compdata Surveys which surveyed use of 6 lean programs (5S, Kaizen, Kanban, Six Sigma, Takt Time Analysis, and Value Stream Mapping) by employers indicated that the usage rate for all 6 programs saw increase from the previous year.  It's not surprising then to see this trend is reflected in pay as per the 2015 salary survey by ASQ. In the US, average full-time quality professionals saw a salary increase of 2.78% to $90,878 over 2014's numbers. Another notable is that it pays to have certifications and Six Sigma training which boost salary. Workers with at least one Six Sigma training program earn a whopping 17.7% more than their counterpart without training ($99,943 vs. $82238).  

Comparing Six Sigma Black Belts:
Below is a comparison of Black Belt salaries from various sources from 2015.
Indeed: $85,000
Salary.com: $102,596
Glassdoor: $87,450
It is important to note that salaries will differ depending on industry or geographical location. 

Outlook:
Trends and demand continue to be strong for Lean Six Sigma professionals. The results also indicate that Six Sigma certification is recognized by employers and rewarded. More industries are adopting Six Sigma practices which may have influence on the overall salary range.