ACDIS update: CDI salaries continue slow ascent, 2018 CDI Salary Survey finds

When ACDIS first conducted its CDI Salary Survey, more than half the respondents earned $69,999 or less. In 2018, only 17% fell into that bracket, down from 20% according to 2017 results. The next earnings bracket, and usually the largest group—those who earn $70,000–$79,999—remained nearly the same year-over-year, 21.17% in 2018 versus 20.72% in 2017.

Those who earn salaries of $100,000 or more, however, grew to 28.15%, up from last year’s 25.58%, indicating that top-earning CDI professionals found themselves on a path of continued growth in 2018. In fact, the majority of the 1,030 respondents to the 2018 survey reported earning a raise in the last 12 months.

Despite annual raises, however, roughly half of CDI professionals still say they don’t believe their salary, benefits, bonuses, and job perks have kept up with the cost of living. This less than cheery outlook may be because many have seen reductions in other parts of their compensation, including health coverage (27.87%), travel (33.79%), and continuing education budges (44.07%).

The 2018 CDI Salary Survey, sponsored by Nuance, also includes information regarding job diversification, experience levels, educational background, and regional differences, offering a wealth of information to help CDI leaders benchmark their staff’s compensation, and staff understand what their work is worth.

“I always review the salary surveys,” says Jeff Morris, RN, BSN, CCDS, supervisor of CDI at University of South Alabama Health System in Mobile, encouraging those working in the field to stay informed about the annual changes illustrated within the results. “It gives us all the pulse of the industry, especially if you’re not able to get out much to network.”