Energy Compensation Surveys

ECI/Zayla conducts major national compensation surveys annually for the Energy Industry. Strictly controlled to maximize quality and relevance, our exclusive surveys are only distributed to participating companies.

Compensation Surveys for the Energy Industry

To qualify for participation, companies must meet peer compatibility requirements, which contribute to survey product effectiveness. We work directly with qualified Executive Management and Human Resources Management during the collection process, emphasizing data accuracy and confidentiality. Ultimately, survey data are meticulously screened and aggregated in compliance with anti-trust regulations by our expert analysts to ensure excellence with valid and consistent results.

Survey questionnaires are all hosted on our secure website. Account credentials are distributed to each eligible company’s authorized contact at the beginning of each survey cycle. Zayla maintains strict policies for site access to ensure complete confidentiality of participant data. Survey data collection is segmented by: Incumbent Data and Administrative Policies/Practices, annually. Benefits Practices/Policies or Hot Topics information is collected in alternating years. Incumbent data may optionally be bulk imported, using an Excel template. Data input is validated in real-time as it is entered or imported and must be complete and accurate before data submission is accepted. Zayla performs several content validation processes after data submission, producing comprehensive and accurate final results.

About the Surveys

Established in 1996, the ECI Oil and Gas E&P compensation survey has become the premier survey for the Exploration & Production industry. In a challenging market, where attracting and retaining top talent is increasingly competitive, this survey is indispensable to companies building and maintaining effective compensation plans.

Zayla Partners, a Gallagher Company acquired ECI Surveys in January of 2024. The survey is to be expanded to all Energy sectors for 2025 and beyond.

2024 E&P Survey Highlights

In 2024, 63 companies submitted data for 410 positions. Publicly traded, private, independent, and subsidiary organizations participated in the survey. These exploration and production companies were categorized small to large by revenue and represent a diversity of regional. The final report, comprised of data for more than 21,000 incumbents, features multi-dimensional perspectives of the market data, including company revenues, E&P capital expenditures budgets, geographic location, and position specific scope data, as well as overall aggregation by position.

2024 E&P Participating Companies

Participation and Cost

This is a participant only survey, open to energy firms. Each survey has specific requirements to participate. Exploration and Production survey requires full-time employees actually performing e&p activities on owned assets from which the company earns revenue in the U.S. Company size, revenue levels and employee types are also considered. Only organizations that participate and sign a confidentiality agreement may receive the results.

To inquire about eligibility, an authorized company official may submit a request using this form. We does not accept requests from consultants or directly from individual employees. If you represent a company interested in participating in this survey, please have an authorized company official initiate an inquiry. 

The cost for survey results is disclosed to eligible companies upon qualification.

2025 Energy Survey Schedules

Exploration and Production:

  • April 1 – Data Effective Date
  • May 16 – Data Submission Deadline
  • June 1 – Payment Due
  • June 20 – Questionnaire Submission
  • Mid-August – Receive report

Midstream, Oilfield Services & Alternative Energy:

  • May 1 – Data Effective Date
  • June 13 – Data Submission Deadline
  • July 1 – Payment Due
  • August 18 – Questionnaire Submissions
  • Mid-September – Receive Report

Participants of this robust survey gain valuable insight into peer practices, facilitating competitive compensation planning. Anywhere from 200-400 job positions are surveyed, depending on the sector, including multiple levels of Top Management, Energy E&P Management, Professionals, and Support, as well as General Industry Management, Professionals, and Support. The results of this survey are comprehensive, including the following incumbent compensation data metrics:

  • Base Salaries
  • Short-Term Incentive/Bonus (eligibility, targets, amounts)
  • Total Cash (Base + Short-term Incentive)
  • Long-Term Incentive (eligibility, prevalence, amounts, overall and by plan type)
  • Total Direct Compensation (Total Cash + Long-Term Incentive)
  • Position Specific “Scope” Data (e.g., function, experience, FLSA status, etc…)

Incumbent data are strategically aggregated to provide participating companies with multi-dimensional perspectives of the market data compared to organizational characteristics. Aligning the data to organizational structure and goals streamlines communication and accelerates relevant compensation decisions.

In addition, policy practices are surveyed and aggregated to provide a total compensation picture. Some topics are surveyed annually, some bi-annually.

Following is a partial list of topics:

Administrative Practices
(Annual Questionnaire)

  • Salary Increase Budgets
  • Market Position
  • Short-term Incentive Practices
  • Long-term Incentive Practices
  • Retention/Recruiting Bonuses
  • Turnover Rates

Benefits Practices
(Even Year Questionnaire)

  • Health Care
  • Income Replacement
  • Retirement
  • Paid Time Off
  • Work/Life Benefits
  • Cost Burden

Hot Topics
(Odd Year Questionnaire)

  • Relocation
  • Employee Perquisites
  • Succession Planning
  • Severance Policy
  • Current Important HR Issues

ECI Survey Inquiries

If you are interested in learning more about the ECI survey, please fill out the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.