IT and computer staff have enjoyed an above-inflation pay rise of 4.8% over the past 12 months, according to research by salary survey specialist Celre, part of the XpertHR Group.
The Computer Staff Salary Survey – covering 572 workplaces and 66,843 IT and computer staff – showed that basic pay for IT staff is now rising at its fastest rate in three years, and that redundancy levels are relatively low.
The findings showed that basic salaries have increased by 4.8% in the year to May 2008, compared with 3.8% in May 2007. And basic salaries plus bonuses have risen to 5.7% over the same period.
Average bonuses for IT managers now stand at 15.3% of their salary, compared with 13.8% a year ago, while average bonuses for non-managerial staff stand at 8.5%, compared with 8% at the same time last year. And the redundancy rate for IT staff was just 1.6%
These healthy figures fly in the face of the gloomy economic climate currently gripping the UK. However, they also indicate that employers are struggling to find and keep the skilled IT staff they need.
Celre managing editor Mark Crail said: “IT staff have managed to defy the downward trend of the economy so far. Salaries are still rising faster than inflation, and there is little indication that redundancies are becoming any more widespread.
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“The job security still enjoyed by IT staff is in stark contrast to those in other departments. The Celre National Management Salary Survey published last month showed the redundancy rate among managers doubling over the past 12 months to 3%. This shows that companies are still finding it difficult to retain IT staff with the skills they need.”
Celre has been a leading publisher of salary survey and pay benchmarking data since 1968. It reports on pay for computer, sales and marketing, finance and HR and personnel staff, and in key industries.
