SEL Raises Starting Hourly Wage to $21.50

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Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) announced that it raised its starting hourly wage from $20.00 to $21.50 per hour, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to investing in its people and supporting living-wage jobs.

“Raising our starting wage is one way we recognize the value of our employees and ensure SEL remains a great place to build a career,” said Jake Schlosser, vice president of human resources. “As an employee-owned company, our success is directly tied to the success and well-being of our employee-owners.”

In addition to competitive wages, SEL offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

Comprehensive health and wellness support, including health, dental, and vision coverage; retirement benefits; paid time off; and free onsite health clinics for employees and their families at select locations.

Employee ownership and retirement security, with full-time U.S. employees receiving shares of SEL stock each year through the SEL employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), held in trust until retirement or separation.

Robust career development and advancement opportunities, including programs such as PATH, a tuition assistance program for full-time employees pursuing higher education, and an apprenticeship program that provides hands-on training and pathways into diverse professional roles.

A strong culture of internal mobility, demonstrated by more than 1,000 employee promotions annually.

“Pay matters, but it’s only part of the equation for staying at SEL,” said Sean Higgins, a senior engineering technician who is earning a mechanical engineering degree through the SEL PATH program. “The culture of continuous improvement—combined with mentorship and career development opportunities—has helped me grow from an entry‑level assembler into a senior technical role.”