2005 Salary Survey Snapshots

By Computerworld staff

Computerworld |

These snapshots are available for download as PowerPoint slides as part of our Data Points series.

By the Numbers:

Salary

Across the board, salaries increased slightly in 2005, by 3%.

Senior management saw an increase of 3% (Base: 2,493).

Middle management experienced an average increase of 2.8% (Base: 4,485).

IT staffers had an average salary increase of 2.6% (Base: 7,275).

69% of respondents said their 2005 Base salary had increased from one year ago. The average increase was 6%.

22% reported no change in Base salary.

9% reported a Base salary decrease. The average decrease was 9%.

Bonuses

Across the board, bonuses increased slightly in 2005: 2.8%.

Senior management saw an increase of 3%.

Middle management saw an increase of 2.9%.

IT staffers saw an increase of 2.3%.

72% of respondents said there had been no change in their expected 2005 bonus compensation compared with one year ago.

18% indicated an increase in bonuses. The average increase was 10%.

10% said their bonuses had decreased from one year ago. The average decrease was 25%.

Note: Percentages are based on IT workers employed full time or part time in an IT department.

Above Average

Total compensation increases

· Chief security officer: 6% increase

· Computer operator: 4.4% increase

· Information security specialist: 4.2%

· Information security manager: 3.8% increase

· Network manager: 3.9% increase

Below the Curve

Total compensation increases

· Senior systems analyst: 1.9% increase

· Database administrator: 1.7% increase

· Manager of e-commerce: 1% increase

Growth Industries

Largest increases in total compensation, by industry:

· Biotechnology/biomedical/pharmaceutical: 4%

· Business services: 4.1%

· Defense/aerospace: 4%

· Food/beverages: 4.2%

Smallest increases in total compensation, by industry:

· Telecommunications: 2%

· IT/computer-related services: 1.9%

· Computer dealer/reseller: 1.9%

· Mining/agriculture/construction/engineering: 1.8%

10 Years of Ups & Downs

The peaks and valleys of IT pay raises, as reported in Computerworld's annual Salary Survey from 1996 to 2005:

1996: 4.6%*

1997: 5.2%*

1998: 6.7%*

1999: 6%*

2000: 6.2%*

2001: 5.8%*

2002: 2.6%

2003: 2.8%

2004: 3%

2005: 3%

*In these years, Computerworld surveyed IT workers about changes in their total compensation only. All other years show salary changes.

Gender Inequality

Men pulled down higher increases in salary and bonuses than their female colleagues in IT.

Salary

· Male: 2.8%

· Female: 2.6%

Bonuses

· Male: 2.8%

· Female: 2.3%

Stress Buckets

How stressful is your job?

Very stressful 17%

Stressful 30%

Somewhat stressful 39%

Not very stressful 12%

Not at all stressful 2%

Compared with last year, is your job more stressful, less stressful or the same?

More stressful 20%

Less stressful 22%

The same 54%

Not in same position as one year ago 4%

The Place to Be

How satisfied are you with your decision to pursue a career in IT?

Very satisfied 43%

Satisfied 38%

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 13%

Dissatisfied 5%

Very dissatisfied 1%

How satisfied are you with your job?

Very satisfied 15%

Satisfied 48%

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 19%

Dissatisfied 18%

54% reported that their satisfaction level with their job was the same as 12 months ago.

21% were more satisfied than one year ago.

21% were less satisfied than one year ago.

4% weren't in the same position.

How satisfied are you with your compensation, given base salary, bonuses and benefits in relation to job responsibilities?

Very satisfied 13%

Satisfied 41%

Dissatisfied 19%

Very dissatisfied 4%

Ambivalent 23%

60% reported that their satisfaction level with their compensation was the same as 12 months ago.

16% said they were more satisfied

24% said they were less satisfied.

Money Matters

Which factors would most influence you to change your job?

Salary increase 81%

Better work/life balance 45%

More vacation time 36%

Access to new technology projects 36%

Large sign-on bonus 35%

More responsibility 34%

More training 28%

New title 17%

Relocation 17%

Paid moving expenses 16%

Complete career change 16%

Other factor 8%

What matters most to you about your job?

Base pay 52%

Stock options 44%

Potential for career advancement and development 37%

Vacation time/paid time off 33%

Skill development/educational or training opportunity 30%

Job stability 29%

Flexible work schedule/telecommuting/working at home 26%

Working with leading-edge technology 20%

My opinion and knowledge is valued 18%

Benefits 18%

Corporate commitment to and understanding of the importance of IT 15%

Recognition for work well done 14%

Financial stability of company 12%

Having the resources to do my job well 11%

Job atmosphere/community 10%

Effectiveness of immediate supervision 9%

Challenge of job/responsibility 8%

Less Money? No Chance

42% said they wouldn't switch to a job if the pay was lower.

Of those who would, these factors topped the list of motivators:

Better work/life balance 34%

More job satisfaction 30%

Location 27%

Flexibility 21%

Stock options 12%

Financially stronger company 10%

Different field 10%

Other 5%

With Money Comes Loyalty

As IT workers' salaries rise, so too does their loyalty:

Not looking for a new job:

$20,000 to $39,900 (32%)

$40,000 to $59,9000 (41%)

$60,000 to $79,900 (46%)

$80,000 to $99,999 (47%)

$100,000 to $124,999 (50%)

$125,000 to $149,999 (50%)

$150,000-plus (54%)

Actively looking for a new job at a different company:

$20,000 to $39,900 (17%)

$40,000 to $59,9000 (11%)

$60,000 to $79,900 (9%)

$80,000 to $99,999 (8%)

$100,000 to $124,999 (8%)

$125,000 to $149,999 (7%)

$150,000-plus (11%)

Passively looking for a new job at a different company:

$20,000 to $39,900 (45%)

$40,000 to $59,9000 (41%)

$60,000 to $79,900 (36%)

$80,000 to $99,999 (35%)

$100,000 to $124,999 (33%)

$125,000 to $149,999 (33%)

$150,000-plus (31%)

Seeking a new job within the same company:

$20,000 to $39,900 (7%)

$40,000 to $59,9000 (8%)

$60,000 to $79,900 (8%)

$80,000 to $99,999 (10%)

$100,000 to $124,999 (10%)

$125,000 to $149,999 (9%)

$150,000-plus (5%)

40 Hours No More

Respondents reported working an average of 47 hours per week.

How many hours per week do you work on average?

Less than 40 hours 4%

40 hours 25%

41 to 45 hours 30%

46 to 50 hours 26%

51 to 60 hours 13%

61 hours or more 3%

Wish List

The top five perks respondents said they wished their company offered:

More time off 42%

Telecommuting option 37%

Comp time 30%

Company car 21%

Flexible scheduling 20%

The Icing

The top five types of bonuses received:

Performance 35%

Year-end/annual 26%

Profit sharing 19%

Team 7%

Project completion 5%

What other kinds of perks and compensation does your company offer?

Health benefits/insurance 92%

Life insurance 84%

Matching 401(k) contributions 74%

Tuition reimbursement 71%

Flexible scheduling 57%

Mobile phone 45%

Plaques/awards/gift certificates 41%

Comp time 37%

Employee stock ownership program 31%

Stock purchase plans 31%

Telecommuting option 27%

Additional time off/sabbatical 17%

Dependent care support 17%

Company car 6%

Still Feeling the Pinch

Respondents reported that in the past year, their working conditions have been significantly affected by:

Increased workload due to staff cuts 53%

Budget cuts 50%

Permanent staff layoffs 31%

Hiring freeze 30%

Salary freeze 27%

Training cuts 26%

Canceled project(s) 24%

Increased outsourcing 24%

Contract staff layoff 15%

Contract/consultant hires 12%

Increased hiring/staffing 10%

Decreased outsourcing 2%

Security Blanket

23% said they were very secure in their job.

34% said they were secure in their job.

57% said their level of job security has not changed from one year ago.

22% said they felt more secure, and 16% said they felt less secure.

Outsourcing Squeeze

Is your organization outsourcing some of its IT jobs?

Yes, outsourced to a company in the U.S. 19%

Yes, outsourced to a company offshore 15%

Yes, outsourced to a combination of companies both in the U.S and offshore 14%

No 46%

Don't know 7%

Doesn't total 100% because of rounding.

Base: 14,181

How is outsourcing affecting IT workers?

Fewer IT jobs available 65%

Lower employee morale 62%

New hires at reduced salaries 46%

Fewer opportunities for advancement 41%

Skills valued less 38%

Salary reductions for employees 29%

Opportunities to work on more innovative projects 17%

It's an important aspect to global business growth 17%

New hires to support outsourcing efforts 11%

Skills valued more 9%

Other 4%

Settled and Satisfied

Are You Looking for another job?

10% acknowledged that they were actively looking for another job

46% reported that they weren't looking.

36% classified their job search as "passively looking."

Nonlookers

Of those respondents who said they weren't looking for a new job:

70% said they were satisfied with their current responsibility

48% said they were satisfied with their current compensation.

48% said they were satisfied with their company culture.

27% said that the job market was poor.

Base: 6,500

Lookers

The following were the most commonly reported reasons given by those looking for new jobs:

Looking for higher compensation 59%

Career opportunity 48%

Personal fulfillment 43%

More interesting/challenging work 44%

More responsibility 31%

Base: 7,702

Average total compensation in selected IT job titles, 2005

Average for all titles: $87,838

CIO/vice president of IT: $164,421

Chief technology officer: $154,639

Chief security officer: $132,192

Director of networks: $126,734

Director of systems development: $142,558

IT director: $108,227

Internet technology architect/strategist: $112,027

Communications manager: $83,974

Computer operations manager: $82,804

Database manager: $95,660

Data warehousing manager: $110,626

E-commerce manager: $96,604

Help desk/technical support manager: $68,038

Information security manager: $98,748

Internet/intranet manager: $79,073

IT manager: $85,384

Network manager: $68,822

Product manager: $99,565

Application development manager: $100,841

Project manager: $94,980

Communication specialist: $65,130

Computer operator: $44,377

Database administrator: $82,551

Database analyst: $66,112

Database architect: $106,496

Database developer: $80,644

E-commerce specialist: $78,910

Help desk/mechanical support specialist: $48,433

Information security specialist: $81,036

IT/business systems analyst: $73,946

Messaging groupware specialist: $82,292

Network administrator: $54,284

Network architect: $94,200

Network engineer: $70,366

Programmer/analyst: $67,684

Project leader: $83,401

Quality assurance specialist: $71,550

Software developer: $77,720

Software engineer: $83,164

Systems administrator: $65,780

Systems analyst: $64,593

Senior systems analyst: $81,505

Systems architect: $101,680

Systems programmer: $85,602

Technical trainer: $55,412

Technician: $47,088

Web developer: $61,078

Webmaster: $57,184

2005 Salary Survey

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