Santa’s salary up a whisker in 2016

Dec. 25--LAS CRUCES -- After a year of disappointing stories about corporate CEO salaries being astronomically higher than those of workers in their companies, here is a refreshing bit of news.

Santa Claus' annual paycheck for 2016 only rose a whisker over the past year. While the Right Jolly Old Elf, of course, does not have to release his tax information to the public, the online insurance company Insure.com has estimated St. Nick's annual income at $146,309. To estimate Santa's salary, the company broke down his job description into categories, estimated what portion of his day was spent on each and applied an average national salary to the result.

The largest portion of the goodies in Santa's bank bag come from his role running the workshop. Figuring eight hours a day, 364 days a year, that industrial engineering role nets him about $122,000. A little over $5,000 is allocated for his role as a labor relations specialist (negotiating with elves) and he pulls in around $2,000 to $3,000 each for being a professional shopper, wrapping gifts, reading letters and sitting in the mall to speak with children.

As a professional snow plow driver at the North Pole, Santa rakes in about $3,300 for a half-hour a day, 360 days a year. Of course he socks away additional income for things such as being an investigator and list-checker, caring for the reindeer, going down chimneys, distributing gifts and as a sleigh pilot for 10 hours a day, one day a year.

The smallest portion of Santa's annual income traces to his trademark "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night," announcement, for which he earns $0.19 for 0.01 hours of labor.

All told, the tally helps him continue in his business, maintaining production, distribution and tracking systems for gifts for good little girls and boys. He also, according to online realty site Zillow.com, owns his own home valued at $656,957. That's for a 2,500 square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath with a detached workshop and stables on the grounds. There is also ample parking for the sleigh in the attached garage. But, according to Zillow, he's not selling. The home at the North Pole is listed as unavailable.

Outsourcing

So what's a busy CEO with global demands do to keep ahead in difficult economic and weather conditions? Outsource, of course.

For more than 60 years, Santa has relied on the North American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD, to help millions of children track delivery of their parcels.

The public/private partnership, in place since 1955, follows his flight as he crosses the globe, alerting anxious young ones when he is approaching and it is time to get in bed.

As CEO, Santa also keeps up an unbelievably hectic social schedule, greeting visitors in malls and department stores as well as attending corporate and private Christmas parties. This has led to the expansion of his original business model to include thousands of members of his extended family, said Susen Mesco, founder of the Santa Claus School in Denver, Colorado.

"This is really a family business gone wild," she said of Santa's overall enterprise. "Brothers and cousins, nephews and uncles are located all across the world. We have teams of reindeer across the world."

By enlisting and training Santa's family members, it ensures that, on the rare occasions when Santa must make more than one appearance at a time, a bonafide member of the Santa family is there to step in. Mesco is also helping Santa on the "front end" of the gift-to-tree process with her website for kids, www.mysantareports.com, which allows youngsters to register their "good" behavior and give them daily and weekly report cards on chores to let Santa know. Children also get a "Nice" certificate after checking off their lists.

The Santa family members go through years of training, background checks, and annual continuing education courses to stay sharp when they are called on. Suits must be perfect, real white beards groomed to perfection, the reindeer well-trained, Mesco said.

Mesco offers online training beginning Jan. 1 and conducts 38 workshops before the annual Santa convention, which is five days and 72 seminars covering everything from sign language and Spanish to photography and costumes. The Santas and Mrs. Clauses also learn how to deal with the tough questions children may ask during the holiday and to explain when a coveted gift may not be ready to go under the tree.

"This year there was a big fire in electronics," Mesco said. "The Claus family is working with the import department, trying to get all the electrical pieces."

Once Santas graduate from her college, they can expect to make an average of about $7,500 in a season. Some mall Santas can make around $25,000 and home visit Santas about $5,000. Some high profile Santas can make $40,000 to $50,000 per season.

"Your quality Santas are insured, will have a national, not local, background check and most have an educational website," Mesco said. "I recommend anyone thinking of booking a Santa that they get pictures from the Santa, references from clients served and find out if there is a backup Santa in case of snow or illness."

Seen on scene

No holiday scene at a mall or department store, much less neighborhood parties and charitable get-togethers, would be complete without Santa. Susan Palmer, marketing manager of the Mesilla Valley Mall, said having Santa in the mall and hosting Breakfast with Santa is part tradition, part a service to the community and all about the smallest of his fans.

"It's a great community service," Palmer said. "We've had kindergarten classes come from two different schools. It's a focal point for the mall, with the big Santa set and winter wonderland theme, for people to gather, for kids to visit Santa and get their picture taken."

But, certainly, Santa is not all about the bottom line. Jessica and Mike Nichols, two Las Crucens with a personal connection to both Santa and the Missus, say the couple never charge a penny when they come to town. For a few years, the Nichols have played host when the Claus family comes to visit downtown events or when the city's Parks and Recreation Department asks for an appearance. They show up out of the goodness of their hearts, Jessica Nichols said.

The Nichols first met Santa about five years ago when their son asked Santa to visit as part of a Weed and Seed program through the city. Since then, the Claus family keeps coming back every year.

"It is all about the kids," Jessica said. "When he is here visiting, he's only here for a few hours and then he has to go back to the North Pole and make sure everything is working in the shop.

"Santa loves children," she said. "Everything he does is based on making children have a good life, have something positive happen in their life, even if it's just for a moment."

Jason Gibbs can be reached at (575) 541-5451 or jgibbs@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @fjgwriter.

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