Whether satisfaction follows pay
Satisfaction with work and satisfaction with earnings are different aspects of medical writing employment and freelance practice. Salary surveys show how they relate to income within particular respondent groups, alongside the working conditions respondents value.
Work and income satisfaction
In AMWA's 2007 salary survey, 6% of respondents reported dissatisfaction with their work and 18% with their pay; the pay-dissatisfaction share was the same as in 2004. Satisfaction with work and pay correlated significantly and positively (reported R² = 0.4373; p < 0.001).
The 2011 AMWA survey received 1,193 responses, a response rate of 23%, with employees making up 69% and freelances 31%. Nearly 80% reported being somewhat or very satisfied with their work, and almost 70% somewhat or very satisfied with their income.
Salary level and satisfaction
The 2012 EMWA survey, completed by 320 members between 5 November 2012 and 8 January 2013, found fewer than one in five respondents dissatisfied with their job or annual income, defined as scores of 0–3, and approximately 40% very satisfied with each, defined as scores of 8–10. There was no clear correlation between actual salary and job satisfaction (Pearson r = 0.29) or salary satisfaction (r = 0.32), but salary satisfaction correlated with job satisfaction (r = 0.78). The researchers interpreted this as suggesting that working conditions rather than salary were the main factors determining satisfaction.
In the 2017 EMWA analysis, 91% of employed respondents and 91% of freelance respondents were satisfied with their work, compared with 63% and 77%, respectively, satisfied with their pay. The researchers interpreted this difference as suggesting that factors other than salary contribute to work satisfaction. Satisfaction with pay was associated with higher income: satisfied employees had a mean gross annual salary of €68,286 against €53,508 for dissatisfied employees, a difference of 28% (p < 0.01). Satisfied freelances had a mean hourly rate of €88 against €59 for dissatisfied freelances (p < 0.01).
Employee income and satisfaction
In the 2021 EMWA survey, most employee respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their salary, with somewhat higher median incomes than those neutral or dissatisfied with pay. Gross annual income by salary satisfaction was reported for 251 employees.
| Salary satisfaction | n (%) | Median (€) | Range (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very unsatisfied | 5 (2) | 44,000 | 14,000–46,000 |
| Unsatisfied | 32 (13) | 47,500 | 24,000–78,000 |
| Neutral | 63 (25) | 45,900 | 2,200–150,000 |
| Satisfied | 109 (43) | 59,000 | 3,600–220,000 |
| Very satisfied | 42 (17) | 55,000 | 33,600–172,000 |
Work satisfaction was not predictive of employee income: median salaries were similar among neutral, satisfied and very satisfied respondents, while the three very unsatisfied employees had the highest median salary, €74,000. Gross annual income by work satisfaction was reported for 262 employees.
| Work satisfaction | n (%) | Median (€) | Range (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very unsatisfied | 3 (1) | 74,000 | 46,000–149,000 |
| Unsatisfied | 9 (3) | 39,000 | 22,500–57,000 |
| Neutral | 31 (12) | 60,000 | 2,200–155,000 |
| Satisfied | 125 (48) | 60,000 | 3,600–200,000 |
| Very satisfied | 94 (36) | 58,000 | 3,600–330,000 |
The most frequently reported reasons for employee dissatisfaction with work or salary were high workload (26%), low salary (22%) and feeling undervalued (18%). The researchers proposed exploring the apparent disconnect between employee income and work satisfaction in future surveys.
Freelance rates and satisfaction
In the 2021 EMWA survey, 81% of freelance respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with earnings and 91% with work. Median hourly rates generally increased with satisfaction with earnings and work. Hourly rates by earnings satisfaction were reported for 99 freelances.
| Earnings satisfaction | n (%) | Median (€/hour) | Range (€/hour) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very unsatisfied | 1 (1) | 75 | Not applicable |
| Unsatisfied | 5 (5) | 40 | 15–100 |
| Neutral | 13 (13) | 70 | 60–80 |
| Satisfied | 57 (58) | 80 | 40–140 |
| Very satisfied | 23 (23) | 95 | 70–150 |
Hourly rates by work satisfaction were reported for 98 freelances.
| Work satisfaction | n (%) | Median (€/hour) | Range (€/hour) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very unsatisfied | 1 (1) | 75 | Not applicable |
| Unsatisfied | 1 (1) | 40 | Not applicable |
| Neutral | 7 (7) | 60 | 23–82 |
| Satisfied | 44 (45) | 80 | 40–140 |
| Very satisfied | 45 (46) | 90 | 40–150 |
The most frequently reported reasons for freelance dissatisfaction with work or salary were high workload (24%), difficulty finding regular clients (13%) and low salary (11%).
Satisfaction among Italian writers
The Italian Local EMWA Group's February 2024 survey had 68 respondents, of whom 49 (72%) were satisfied or very satisfied with their work. Its work-satisfaction results were:
| Work satisfaction | All respondents (n = 68) | Employees (n = 32) | Freelances (n = 34) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very satisfied | 15 (22%) | 6 (19%) | 8 (24%) |
| Satisfied | 34 (50%) | 18 (56%) | 15 (44%) |
| Neutral | 15 (22%) | 6 (19%) | 9 (26%) |
| Unsatisfied | 4 (6%) | 2 (6%) | 2 (6%) |
| Very unsatisfied | — | — | — |
A dash marks a work-satisfaction category for which the figure showed no segment.
More than half of all respondents, 36 (53%), were satisfied or very satisfied with their pay, including 19 employees (59%) and 16 freelances (47%). The researchers considered dissatisfaction understandable in the context of little relationship between compensation and experience or responsibility, together with the high workload most respondents reported.
Working conditions and development
An online survey of regulatory writers at different career levels, reported in 2023, identified four areas of highest importance for job satisfaction: a stimulating work and team environment, management support, development and training opportunities, and salary and other benefits. The surveyed writers' needs and interests included communication, collaboration, time management, critical thinking, conflict resolution and leadership skills. The researchers suggested that job satisfaction may be perceived differently at different experience levels and proposed further investigation.