News

Competition for IT Pros Will Cause a Hike in Starting Salaries in 2006

IT pros can expect starting salaries in 2006 to increase an average of 3 percent over 2005, according to the just-released Robert Half Technology 2006 Salary Guide. The employment company predicts larger increases in base compensation in high-demand specialties such as lead applications developer, IT auditor and network security administrator. This compares to the 0.5 percent average increase in base compensation that was projected this time last year, the employment agency says.

The survey also reveals that base compensation for lead applications developers is projected to increase 5.3 percent in 2006, to between $72,000 and $98,250 a year. Average starting salaries for network security administrators are expected to rise 5.2 percent, to the range of $67,500 to $94,750 annually.

IT auditors will see the greatest starting salary increases of any job classification in 2006, with base compensation expected to rise 11.2 percent, to the range of $67,000 to $94,250 annually. Other findings from the Robert Half Technology 2006 Salary Guide include:

  • Developers/programmer analysts will see starting salaries rise 4.6 percent to the range of $55,250 and $86,750 per year.
  • Business systems analysts will earn average starting salaries of between $58,750 and $84,750 annually, an increase of 5.1 percent over 2005 levels.
  • Data analysts/report writers can expect base compensation in the range of $54,000 and $71,250, a gain of 5 percent over 2005 starting salaries.