THE DAYS of double-digit hikes in telemarketing salaries may be over, judging by a survey from TeleManagement Search, a New York executive search firm.

Inbound telemarketing directors in the consumer arena saw their base compensation jump 2.9%, from $80,400 in 1997 to $82,700 in 1998, while business-to-business telemarketing director salaries rose 2.1%, from $74,600 in 1997 to $76,200 in 1998.

A telemarketing director’s duties include measuring and controlling allowable costs per order; implementing call center policies; hiring and training staff; and designing monitoring programs.

The higher consumer pay level is an anomaly. B-to-B telemarketing salaries tend to be slightly higher due to the more technical nature and greater ticket value of the products and services sold to businesses.

Outbound B-to-B telemarketing directors earned an average of $82,100, with low and high reported salaries of $67,900 and $88,600. Average base compensation rose 1.9% from last year’s level of $80,600. Consumer directors typically earned about $74,800, up 1.9% from last year’s average of $73,400, with a low salary of $63,400 and a high of $86,800 reported.

Outbound directors determine target markets and develop sales and pricing strategies; design and implement marketing plans; develop quality and efficiency programs; and analyze sales statistics.

Call center vice presidents made an average of $101,300 in 1998, up 2.6% from $98,700 in 1997. The lowest reported salary was $90,800 and the highest $120,000. Regional directors saw their pay increase some 2.4%, from $78,900 to $80,800, with salaries ranging from $69,600 to $90,200. Call center managers made between $48,100 and $64,800; average base compensation jumped 6.3%, from $52,300 to $55,600. The category was not broken out by consumer and B-to-B.

The survey bases analysis of 22 job descriptions and salary ranges on interviews with employers, employees and firms requesting candidates.

Copies of the report are available for $35 and a business card.

Requests should be sent to TeleManagement Search, 114 E. 32nd St., Suite 1238, New York, NY 10016.

There has been a slowdown from the double-digit growth levels in salaries among telemarketing executives last year, a survey by TeleManagement Search, a New York-based executive search firm, reveals.

Inbound telemarketing directors (those individuals whose duties include measuring and controlling allowable cost per order; implementing call center policies; hiring and training staff; and designing monitoring programs) in the consumer arena saw their base salary jump 2.9%, from $80,400 to $82,700, while B-to-B telemarketing director salaries rose 2.1%, from $74,600 to $76,200.

In terms of salary levels between business to business and consumer, these represent an anomaly. Generally, B-to-B salaries tend to be slightly higher due to the more technical nature of the product or service sold to businesses, and because the products or services in question tend to be higher ticket, with larger profit margins.

Outbound telemarketing directors, who determine target markets and develop sales and pricing strategies; design and implement marketing programs; develop quality and efficiency programs and analyze sales statistics, saw their salaries rise by the same rate regardless of focus.

Among this group, those in the B-to-B arena made an average of $82,100, with low and high reported salaries of $67,900 and $88,600, respectively. The average salary rose 1.9% from last year’s level of $80,600. Consumer outbound telemarketing directors earned an average of $74,800, up 1.9% from last year’s average of $73,400, with a low salary of $63,400 and a high salary of $86,800 reported.

Call center management, which was not segmented by business-to-business and consumer, was also evaluated. Call center vice presidents made an average of $101,300 (up 2.6% from $98,700), with a low reported salary of $90,800 and a high salary of $120,000. Regional directors saw their salaries increase 2.4%, from $78,900 to $80,800, with salaries ranging from $69,600 to $90,200. Call center managers made between $48,100 and $64,800, with their average salary jumping 6.3%, from $52,300 to $55,600.

The survey bases analysis of 22 job descriptions and salary ranges on interviews with employers, employees and companies requesting candidates. Copies of the report are available from TeleManagement Search for $35 and a business card. Requests should be sent to TeleManagement Search, 114 East 32nd Street, Suite 1238, New York, NY 10016.