News: 2017 Salary Survey shows pay on the rise, but CDI professionals less optimistic

CDI specialists’ salaries continue to grow, according to the 2017 CDI Salary Survey, but participants this year aren’t as optimistic as in years past. Similarly, job titles show some diversification but not as much growth as shown previously.

Those earning the lowest, $59,999 or less, fell by 4% year-over-year from 10% to 6%. The largest number of respondents (20%) report earning $70,000–$79,999—the typical salary over the past three years. However, those earning that amount fell from 22% to 20%, and those earning the next highest payment bracket of $80,000–$89,999 increased from 17% to 19%. Those in the $100,000–$109,999 bracket increased from 7% to 11%.

Though the top earning bracket increased, career growth options for CDI professionals decreased this year in favor of step-increases, which reward experience and education level advancements, according to the survey results.

“People want to feel validated about the work they do and the role they fill within the organization,” says Lara Faustino, RN, BSN, CCDS, a CDI specialist at Boston Medical Center (BMC).

While all career ladder options fell somewhat year-over-year, the highest growth opportunity continues to be the CDI team lead position, garnering 44%, followed by CDI education lead at 23% and CDI quality reviewer at 20%.

This year’s Salary Survey also examined topics such as the link between salary and professional background, certification, reporting structures, education, experience levels, and demographics, to provide a soup-to-nuts look at where the CDI industry stands today in comparison to previous years.

“These salary surveys always provide interesting insight into CDI trends,” says ACDIS Advisory Board member Angie Curry, RN, BSN, CCDS, CDI director at Conifer Health in Frisco, Texas. “I think this year shows we have more work to do to help advance the profession.”