F&I managers on average out-earned every other department executive in franchised dealerships last year -- at least in the 700-store Chicagoland area.

The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), reporting on a breakdown of the annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) survey for its sprawling eight-county market, says the F&I managers' remuneration averaged $93,334, compared to $87,543 for the parts and service director. The only executives surpassing F&I in compensation were the general manager at $150,259 and general sales manager at $110,920.

Also trailing were used-vehicle sales manager, $85,598; new-vehicle sales manager, $84,922; service manager, $71,759; body shop manager, $67,061; business manager/comptroller, $64,085; parts manager, $64,205; fleet sales manager, $59,543; truck sales manager, $58,436; and lease and rental manager, $42,173.

Among dealers selling more than 400 units per year, the F&I manager averaged $95,807 last year. Smaller dealerships paid their F&I managers an average of $66,750.

The Chicago area dealers averaged 62 employees, sold an average of 1,319 units and averaged sales earnings of $42.5 million. Company vehicles were provided for 94 percent of managers, 93 percent of dealer principals and 73 percent of sales personnel.

CATA's memebership extends from the Wisconsin line through Lake and Porter counties in northwestern Indiana.