IT Salaries Edging Upward

Mid-Year 2010 IT salary study now available

Salaries for CIOs, middle managers and staff were generally higher this year compared with 2009, according to the "Mid-Year 2010 IT Salary Survey" by Janco Associates. The one exception was compensation for IT executives at midsize enterprises, where the study found a slight softening trend.

IT executives at large enterprises had a mean compensation, including bonuses, of $143,378 this year, representing a slight increase over the $142,753 found in last year's survey (June 2009), according to the report. At midsize enterprises, IT executives took a slight nick. Their mean compensation was $125,079, down from $126,031 last year.

Victor Janulaitis, Janco's CEO, said in a released statement that midsize enterprises are "much more cautious and concerned that the recovery will not be strong enough to support increased IT spending."

Middle managers and staff had higher salaries than last year, in both large enterprises and midsize enterprises, according to the study. The median salary in large enterprises for middle managers was $79,924 (vs. $79,230); for staff, the median salary was $66,230 (vs. $65,965). At midsize enterprises, the median salary was $73,217 (vs. $72,444) for middle managers and $61,047 (vs. $60,279) for staff.

The study noted that many midsize enterprises are still not hiring. Hiring for new positions has been flat "over several quarters." Layoffs have tended to focus on middle management and staff, rather than executives.

Still, the study takes a generally positive view today, especially compared with the economic downturn of late 2008. Compensation for IT professionals took a hit then from several factors, such as increased outsourcing, hiring freezes, salary caps, layoffs and even company closures.

The study listed multiple IT positions that may be less in demand today, or at higher risk of layoffs and outsourcing. Notable mentions at the large enterprise level include: manager of applications development, computer operations shift manager, supervisor of PC support and webmaster. At the midsize enterprise level, these jobs were considered less secure: director of IT planning, data warehouse manager, computer operations shift manager and network services administrator. A full list is provided in the study.

Janco Associates surveyed firms in the United States and Canada for the study. Respondents included 23,676 large companies and 27,782 midsize companies.

The study defined large and midsize companies as follows: "Large companies are companies whose gross revenues are equal to or greater than $500 MM. Mid-sized companies are companies whose gross revenues are less than $500 MM."