These increases were higher in 2007--when the survey was performed--than those reported in 2005. In 2005, executives received an average merit increase of 6.1%, managers and other employees received 5.7% and 4.4% respectively. "Salaries have been rising sharply over the last 10 years," Elizabeth Sherrod, research director tells GlobeSt.com.

Beyond those generalizations, though, trends need to be broken down to provide an accurate picture of the compensation rates. Even comparing this report to the one in 2006 is difficult, she says, because the same companies do not report year after year. "It is never an apples-to-apples comparison."

Much, for instance, has to do with the size of the company with larger companies not surprisingly paying more than smaller ones. CEOs in companies with annual gross revenue of $5 million or less, for instance, earn a median total compensation of $175,000. Those in companies with annual gross revenue more than $100 million, however, earn a median total compensation of $712,800. Also, publicly traded companies and REITs pay the highest levels of compensation. Median total compensation for a CFO at a REIT is $460,000, while private companies pay $267,200.