IT careers are still hot, with overall base compensation for information technology professionals expected to increase 5.6 percent in the coming year, according to a report and 2014 Salary Guide by Robert Half Technology.
Mobile applications and software developers are in particularly strong demand. Business intelligence analysts also can expect to see higher than average salary increases.
“Tech skills are obviously on the increase,” says Eddie Payne, Greenville branch manager for Robert Half. “Folks are using technology more and more every day.”
Payne says that his company is seeing a large growth in technology hiring in the Upstate and that these positions are usually well compensated. Application and software developers, Web developers and IT project managers can expect to make anywhere from $80,000-$130,000 a year.
“Development and software engineering roles are in high demand with industry-specific experience,” says Michael Bays, an information technology recruiter with Godshall Professional Recruiting and Staffing. “Companies have been forced to adjust their budgets accordingly for the talent that matches their needs.”
Payne says that temporary and consulting positions are also still in high demand. Companies are “moving a lot faster in the placement process because the Upstate is doing so well” for permanent roles that need to be filled. “People interviewed today will be gone tomorrow,” he said.
Bays agrees. “A strong software developer or engineer has a very short ‘shelf life’ on the market as companies have been hiring at a much quicker pace than they have been in recent years.” Bays says that when a company targets a person who matches their desired skill set, they must move quickly to hire as there is heavy competition for some IT skills. “Employers are adjusting to a market where talented candidates are not job searching and must be truly recruited into their new roles.”
Entry-level IT roles such as telephone customer support or help desk have been fairly steady, says Bays, as employers seek candidates who have education or a specialized certification that will help them succeed in their field.
“These companies, I find, are looking to attract talent that they can groom and grow to their specific needs. Companies have been willing to offer ‘A’ players slightly higher salaries in 2013 than I saw in 2012,” says Bays. “I can only imagine that this will be the case in 2014. For someone considering a technical career, information technology is an attractive field with high demand.”
SALARY TRENDS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Note: Greenville salaries are expected to be 90% of national amounts, shown here.
