Average starting salary for information technolgoy to increase 1.7 per cent in 2006: survey
Starting salaries for information technology professionals will rise modestly this year, however high-demand specialties will see larger increases, according to a new salary survey.
The 2006 salary survey, conducted by IT staffing firm Robert Half Technology, found that on average, starting salaries will increase 1.7 per cent.
"A shrinking candidate pool and ongoing IT upgrades are heightening the competition for talented IT professionals," said Robert Half Technology vice-president Sandra Lavoy.
"To secure candidates, companies are reassessing their compensation packages and streamlining their hiring processes to avoid losing top candidates to competing employers."
Corporate governance initiatives are fuelling the demand for IT auditors, said Lavoy. These professionals should see the biggest increases, rising seven percent to the range of $61,750 to $87,500 annually.
The survey also found that business systems analysts in database administration will see the next highest increases at 6.5 per cent ($58,250 to $80,250 annually) and business continuity analysts will see the third highest increases at 5.9 per cent ($57,000 to $87,250).
The survey also predicted legal services, business services and oil and gas will have the strongest demand for IT professionals.
Other increases by specialty:
• 4.9 per cent for lead applications developers
• 4.6 per cent for data security analysts
• 4.2 per cent for data analysts/report writers
• 4.2 per cent for technical writers
• Four per cent for application architects
The 2006 salary survey, conducted by IT staffing firm Robert Half Technology, found that on average, starting salaries will increase 1.7 per cent.
"A shrinking candidate pool and ongoing IT upgrades are heightening the competition for talented IT professionals," said Robert Half Technology vice-president Sandra Lavoy.
"To secure candidates, companies are reassessing their compensation packages and streamlining their hiring processes to avoid losing top candidates to competing employers."
Corporate governance initiatives are fuelling the demand for IT auditors, said Lavoy. These professionals should see the biggest increases, rising seven percent to the range of $61,750 to $87,500 annually.
The survey also found that business systems analysts in database administration will see the next highest increases at 6.5 per cent ($58,250 to $80,250 annually) and business continuity analysts will see the third highest increases at 5.9 per cent ($57,000 to $87,250).
The survey also predicted legal services, business services and oil and gas will have the strongest demand for IT professionals.
Other increases by specialty:
• 4.9 per cent for lead applications developers
• 4.6 per cent for data security analysts
• 4.2 per cent for data analysts/report writers
• 4.2 per cent for technical writers
• Four per cent for application architects
