European travel managers earn a median base salary of €73,870 with an average annual bonus of 7.2 per cent, according to the inaugural BTN Europe Travel Manager Salary and Job Satisfaction Survey.
More than 500 travel managers from across Europe took part in the survey, with the full report of findings being published as part of BTN Group’s Corporate Travel Manager Appreciation Week, which runs from 11-15 December.
Buyers based in the UK enjoyed the highest pay with a median annual base salary of £67,553 or €77,820. Those working in Germany (€75,135), the Netherlands (€73,810) and Ireland (€72,955) were not far behind their UK counterparts.
The survey also hinted at some discontent among managers with 35 per cent not receiving a salary increase in 2023 – this proportion was even higher in Germany at 42 per cent.
Meanwhile, 43 per cent of respondents said they did not think they were adequately remunerated for their efforts and 29 per cent did not feel “well recognised” within their organisation.
Comments provided by travel managers as part of the survey demonstrated abundant concerns about employers not understanding the role or value of the travel manager and of the travel programme itself, with NDC and content fragmentation exacerbating the issue.
The research also revealed a gender pay gap within the sector with men being paid 18 per cent more than women on average, despite women accounting for more than 70 per cent of all respondents to the survey.
Another finding shows that size and experience matter, with those managing higher levels of travel spend also earning significantly higher salaries. Those responsible for more than €40 million in annual travel spend earned €95,481 on average per year, while those managing an annual travel programme of €2 million or less were only paid an average of €53,348.
The survey illustrated the evolving roles of travel managers with sustainability now one of the most important topics, followed by data analysis and reporting, travel technology, supplier sourcing and the wellbeing and safety of travellers.
When it comes to sustainability, travel managers also expressed concerns about CO2 emissions reporting and how to get their travellers to consider the necessity of their trips and the mode of transport they choose for their journeys.
For more insights, read the full results of the Travel Manager Salary and Job Satisfaction Survey.
The survey was conducted with the support of 11 European business travel associations and incorporates data provided by the Nordic Business Travel Associations and the French Association of Travel Management (AFTM).