The results of ComputerWorld’s annual salary survey are in. There’s plenty of good news, but still some not-so-good to go along with it.
First, the positives: For the second straight year, IT pros saw their compensation (salary plus bonus) rise more than 3%. This year, it was a 3.9% increase, up significantly from last year’s 3.6% rise.
It also marks the largest growth since a 3.7% rise in compensation in 2007, pre-recession levels.
That probably helps show why IT pros are bullish on their careers. Fifty-one percent said they were very satisfied with their decision to pursue IT careers, and another 34% were satisfied. A majority (60%) said IT offers a more promising path to salary advancement than other fields.
These are all positive developments. Only many in IT aren’t sure it’s enough.
Most haven’t progressed
According to the survey, 41% of IT pros feel they’ve gained ground in the past year financially. That, too, is a jump from the recent past (last year, 35% said they did).
But 37% said they’ve leveled off economically and 22% said they’ve declined.
If you’re looking for ways to hang onto IT talent, there’s pretty much one factor that trumps all others: base pay. Fifty-two percent of IT pros said that was their primary concern.
But other factors that they said were rewarding:
- job stability (43%)
- benefits (36%)
- vacation/paid time off (32%)
- flexible schedules and working from home (31%), and
- knowing their opinions are valued (28%).
