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IT Compensation Leveling Off?

Several recently released surveys indicate that salaries may have bottomed out or be headed slightly upward for all IT job roles, including developers.

Several recent surveys indicate that salaries may have bottomed out or be headed slightly upward for all IT job roles, including developers:

  • The 2003 InfoWorld Compensation Survey (see "IT feels the squeeze," by Heather Havenstein, InfoWorld, June 13, 2003, or click here) encompassing 2,884 respondents showed that 34 percent had reported no change in salary from 2002, and those who did receive increases only received 1 to 5 percent. Of note were average salaries for the following: $78,752 for IT managers, $61,900 for network administrators, and $46,236 for help desk.
  • A quarterly survey of 300 company conducted by Janco Associates, a Park City, Utah-based IT management and consulting firm, showed "mean salaries for all IT positions in large companies increased to $80,030 in the second quarter of 2003, up from $78,687 in the last quarter of 2002." (To see the report, click here.)


  • A random, Web-based survey by Visual Studio Magazine ("2003 Salary Survey: How Do Your Earnings Stack Up?", by Susannah Pfalzer, June 2003) shows a base salary of $76,000, indicating a 12 percent rise from its 2002 report. But the report cautions that job instability continues to be a concern among respondents, with 44 percent reporting layoffs at their companies.
  • Robert Half and Associates released a 2003 IT salary projection in November 2002 that predicts a 2.6 increase in network architect average salaries for 2003. The company also projects that the strongest salary increases will go to security-related positions (4.9 percent).

MCP Magazine 's own survey of compensation for Microsoft Certified Professionals will be published in the August 2003 (online July 23). The 2002 survey can be found here .

About the Author

Michael Domingo is executive editor of MCPmag.com and hosts the Redmond Radio podcasts.

Reader Comments:

Mon, Oct 6, 2008 Anonymous Anonymous

How i may contact admin this site? I have a question.
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Tue, Sep 2, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

Corporate CEO's who import cheap off-shore labor (and export jobs) and the politicians who support them should be tried for treason and shot !!!

Wed, Jul 16, 2003 Clive UK

These job problems are the same all over the 'developed' world and we all cause them by voting in weak governments that allow almost unrestricted 'job visa' style immigration. I have nothing against these people personally, but why do I bother re-qualifying each year like an IT hamster in Bill Gates' wheel, when a third national is gonna step in and do my job for half the money? The US and UK need and deserve governments that show some preferential concern for people who can demonstrate LIFELONG commitment to working and paying their taxes in the UK/US and NOT just 'economic migrants' chasing a fast buck that will be spent overseas. History shows that everytime governments are over-sensitive to socially obsessed left wingers, a right wing government eventually gets the chance to rise. WAKE UP UK - WAKE UP USA. We work in IT and as such we usually have above average intellectual capacity - let's use it to elect the governments that we deserve, eh?

Sat, Jul 12, 2003 Greg Stamper Northeast Ohio

I'm pretty baffled by those who say that offshoring is somehow unamerican (that's how it's capitilized, by the way).

What do you think the shareholders are thinking when this happens? I'll give you a hint: most of them are Americans, and they see their share value going up.

Whine about it if you want, but that's how it works.

I'll also point out that the vast majority of IT people I talk to (those who write books and are otherwise considered experts in the field) are staunch Republicans.

If you feel the labor party is going to bail you out of some communistic force that is giving away American jobs to foreigners, then you either need to re-evaluate your political viewpoints or your career goals.

Personally, I recognize what offshoring can and cannot do, and position myself accordingly. I recommend you do the same, instead of asking government to impose ridiculous rules on private enterprise for your own sake.

Fri, Jun 27, 2003 FookThe System Fooking The System All Over The World

How can IT comp level off when we keep giving our jobs away. Yo what the hell is up I mean I do not mind helping the poor but how can we if we are poor ourselves.

Also how can our government help the poor if they do not have any tax dollars.

Contrary to the popular and untrue belief our government can't just print money. Mexico did that and the price of an apple went so high that you had to bring a Wheel barrow of pesos to the market.

Letting the greed stew is stupid. On top of it that Asshole BUSH has just limited more people from getting O.T. Pay because he thinks that by punishing the companys with OT does not create jobs however making more people salary creates more jobs.

WRONG! It gives companies a license to work you more hours. I am a registered republian and I will not be voting for BUSH in 2004.

Fri, Jun 27, 2003 ROMAN Somewhere in the South

Dear Naderman from Egypt. If you want to raise wages don't work for slave wages! All this does it force us into third world wages and then you won't even be able to find a decent wage in this country where the cost of living is higher.

Sincerely,

ROMAN.

Fri, Jun 27, 2003 ROMAN Somewhere in the South

Let's face it guys (and gals) that the IT jobs are being sent over seas. We need to fight the politicians because the GREEDY capitalists are not going to change. Managers are only for their bonuses so they can live the souless life that they love.

We need to write our congressmen and senators. I got a letter personally (NO MASS MAIL) that addresses my issue from my Senator.

The government is trying to work keeping jobs at home internally but most of those jobs are in DC. I know what he was refering to was it is hard to put the shit back in the horse and reverse the IT job slide however we have to keep pushing them to try.

Fri, Jun 27, 2003 Naderman Egypt

After 2 years of unemployment, I finally landed a job as a Network Engineer, sales person, CAD specialist and more!
I hold BS in computers, MCSE, CCNA, and some CCNP, If I told you my salary is not exceeding 5k/year won't you believe me? But I wish I can get a job in the USA for only 25k ....

Thu, Jun 26, 2003 Baffled Georgia

The level of arrogance and ignorance shown by some of you posters is baffling. Are you not aware that the country is in the midst of a recession? That means that there are actually some people who have lost their jobs, not due to some inherent weakness or lack of work ethic, but because business is bad. I'm sure you have more productive things to do than gloat.

Tue, Jun 24, 2003 Charles GA

I don't understand, I have seen the salaries drop, due to kids coming out of school and working for nothing, and some jobs being sent oversees, but I have never really had a problem. One company I was working for needed to cut my salary, but I just left, started my own company, and am starting to expand. I just keep my eyes open for oportunities, and I don't try to build little empires like the people having problems. I do my job, I do it well, and I get paid what I'm worth, why is that so hard for some people to grasp?

Tue, Jun 24, 2003 Hong Kong IT Guy Hong Kong

The salary of IT fields are decreasing continuously. Nearly 56% IT engineers are working in full time.

Because HK has much people, who has IT certification (e.g. MCSA, MCSE, CCNA), but they do not have the technical skill. So, these guys can accept a lower salary to apply a job.

And the level of salary will be decrease when the no of IT people increased in HK.

Tue, Jun 24, 2003 Phred Fayetteville, NC

I was making an average of 5% raise per year from 1996 through 2002 at a polyester textile plant. It went belly up Jan. 31st so I went from $66K per year to unemployment of $408week. The foreign textile business put us out of business. Now I see it's affecting all sectors (including IT.) Good luck everyone...I see how tought it is and I believe it is our countries urgentcy to spread the wealth of America throughout the world.

Tue, Jun 24, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

I am not having any problems. I believe the reason is that for years I have been asked am "I working too hard". I have been asked do I need an assistant to help out and I have refused. I keep my department lean and mean. Ultimately this puts more money in my pocket

Tue, Jun 24, 2003 Jack Foster

It's exactly the same story in England. Until the fall of 2001 People with cutting edge Database or Internetworking skills could name their price. Many jobs are now being shipped over to Infosys and Wipro in India.

Tue, Jun 24, 2003 BC Lower Midwest

I am an MCSE, MCT, MCSA, CCNA certified on NT4 and W2K with 12 years experience in the industry. A little over a year ago the company I was working for closed the operation in my area due to the fall-off in training which coincided with the economic down-turn. Since then I found openings in the IT field almost non-existent. I managed to make ends meet doing contract work here and there until I finally landed a job running a company's systems, help desk, app. dev., you name it. Pretty full plate and compensation less than I've made in 5 years. But the bright side is that I am employed in my field and making at least a respectable salary. In today's climate, that's good enough. Hopefully in the not too distant future, things will come around.

Tue, Jun 24, 2003 Anonymous Virginia

That's the key. If you have the qualifications and the experience, you will have to relocate to get the $ you deserve. No ifs ands or buts about it.

Mon, Jun 23, 2003 Anonymous San Diego

I am leaving my current role as a Network Analyst. I am a MCSE, making $52kyr. I was offered a Network Administrator position for a great financial institution at $55yr plus a great bonus package. Maybe everyone having problems finding decent work needs to move to where the jobs are.

Mon, Jun 23, 2003 massacre by the indians Texas

Soon, the companies that are selling the high-priced geek toys will be hurting, because the (formerly)high salaried IT guys won't be able to purchase them... it will all roll down hill.... and when the brain drain is complete.... there will be no one who understands the business requirements....
Read today's (6/18) commentary at on workers from India.

Once again, we're offered a sterling example of the incredible ingenuity of big American corporations - outfits that never cease to amaze with their clever ability to stiff their own employees.

Their latest ingenious gimmick is an obscure provision in our nation's immigration laws. It's called the L-1 Visa, and apparently the "L" stands for Loophole. It's certainly a big one, allowing such corporations as Cigna, General Electric, and Merrill Lynch, to import low-wage technology workers from India to replace their American employees.

The L-1 Visa was meant to allow U.S. corporations to transfer a few of their own foreign employees from an overseas branch into company offices here. But now, these corporations are driving an immigration truck right through this L-1 loophole, having already used it to bring some 325,000 computer engineers, programmers, and other high-tech employees from abroad, mostly from India.

Here's how the game is played: The foreign workers are hired wholesale by Indian-based recruitment firms that then ship them to their U.S. branches, claiming that they are L-1 transfers. Once here, these workers are contracted to American corporations. The gimmick is that, technically, the immigrants are still employed by the Indian firms - but the bottom line is that major U.S. corporations have been able to smuggle in foreign workers and pay them a third to a half less than the Americans they replace.

The L-1 Visa does not require that imported tech workers be paid the prevailing wage, nor is there a limit on how many can be brought in. Not only does this loophole allow Americans to be displaced, but it's also common for the corporations to require their American employees to train the foreign workers who'll be given their jobs.

This is Jim Hightower saying... To help stop this wage-busting ripoff, Call Rep. John Mica: 202-225-4035.

Sources: "Special Visa's Use for Tech Workers Is Challenged," New York Times, May 30, 2003

Copyright - Saddleburr Productions, Inc

Mon, Jun 23, 2003 clueless in Seattle Bejing or Bombay

less' money! (but more for Bill!), Gee wish I could speak Manderin Chinese and get some free training! Hey wait a minute they just raised the price on exams! Now what did that MCP.com lady say? Oh yea!, they should raise them to $400.00 each! Go Bill! Go M. C. Pee!!!!!!
I can hear it now! Oh whatever!!! Want salt with those fries?(Practice! Practice! not you idiot, your kids!) oh I'm sorry! It can't happen in this country! Yea Right!

Mon, Jun 23, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

Union anyone??

Mon, Jun 23, 2003 cj st. louis

My salary has gone down in the last few years. I am making much less now than I was at the end of 2000. And my job responsibilities have decreased and the level of challenge has decreased and my job satisfaction has ceased to be... At least I have a job for the time being, but the next step for me will be - Wanted: One MCSE with four years of regressively responsible experience and salary. Job responsibilites include moving desktops and monitors to dust and clean the places on user desks where the janitorial staff will not go. Required skills include knowing where cables need to be connected on the backs of PC's and how turn a surge protector on and off. Pay will be minimal and benefits will not be offered.

Mon, Jun 23, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

The only way to keep US jobs and up the salaries is to ban sending work off-shore (to India, China, Poland etc) unless the company has an office in the country that they are sending the work/jobs to. This will still allow major companies like Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, etc to send work to their offshore units but bar smaller companies from doing the same since they do not have a "working" company there.
IT workers should lobby this with the senate.

Mon, Jun 23, 2003 GW Ohio

I was making $64k with benefits in 2001 as an application developer. Now I make $50k without benefits. I consider myself lucky compared to the still jobless It folks I met at a local job hunt help group.

Mon, Jun 23, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

I work for the government and we are loosing a lot of skilled Network Engineers to other Revenue making departments of the government-more money. We are a Cisco shop and the second largest city in the US. The government does not use the "Engineer" word very loosely. We are under staff and under skill. We will have to hire- red tape is prohibiting us from doing so.

Mon, Jun 23, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

Last year I was making help-desk wage to be a network admin. Now I'm making $20k less. It took me more than 6 months to get THIS job. I'm glad I have work, But I often wonder what I went to college for. I could have made this much before and wouldn't have the stinkin' loans to pay off.

Mon, Jun 23, 2003 Anonymous NEW JERSEY

The It job market in NJ and NY really stinks. I have seen many Jobs posted by consultant company over and over that are the same Jobs that were there last week. Robert Half constantly does this. They post the same jobs over and over when they have filled them. Also these company are paying very low rates. Taking advantage of the economy. I have been looking for the last 6 months and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. If I get a chance and I have been in the IT field for over 15yrs I am going to try something new. It"s not worth it anymore. They pay has come down and these consultant company don"t care about you. They are just in it for themselves.

Mon, Jun 23, 2003 sonny Florida

dot.gone: I have a little tech degree in the field, Mcse Nt\W2k, CCA, CNA
and a few other goodies. I left a major corp. for a safer position with the FED gov.; your education will do you better
at www.opm.gov. I volunteered to leave due to the downsizing even though I was told not to worry, my job was secure. I took a cut from the 79g's but I sleep better these days. My families future is brite no matter what the CEO's and exec's take from the employee; I'm immune!!!

Mon, Jun 23, 2003 Anonymous Romania

I work for the local office of a very big american company (Romania is in Eastern Europe). We get a raise from time to time but less than the official inflation (so the salaries are geting lower) and we use local software companies to produce software used by my company in the whole world. We pay for developers 10$ per hour (and is not much even here, taxes are over 50%; the developers get maybe 3-4 $ per hour net) and most of them are students - we spend a lot of time for quality checking and most projects are not done in time, but still is much cheaper than making the same projects in US or West Europe.

Sun, Jun 22, 2003 ssss sssssssss

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sat, Jun 21, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

I'd really like to know where they come up with these outrageous salaries! I've got more hands-on experience and certifications than a lot of people and yet I make less than half the $80K/year they talk about in this article. I only took the job I have right now because it was the only sure job available and not listed after searching for 10 months. I think people are really taking advantage of us IT guys these days!

Sat, Jun 21, 2003 FahKit Anonymous

Ah yes, IT jobs will be as cherished as jobs such as bum pimple pinsher.

Sat, Jun 21, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

ITT is educating for the jobs of tomorrow...what a joke! They are training for the jobs of yesterday. I agree, newbies should find another profession such as health care

Sat, Jun 21, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

To Sean from Atlanta - Just be thankful that Akmad in India is not already doing your job. We can't all be developers now can we - that would push the average salary of developers down to $10 an hour which is still 5 more than they make in India. People...please stop being so arrogant.

Sat, Jun 21, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

To Bill from Nashville. The only problem with your statement is that the government created most of the problems. Easy AL (greenspan) has made a mess of things by making credit too easy creating the bubble in the first place and now trying to sustain what is left of it. Take ECON 401 and you might catch on.

Sat, Jun 21, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

I keep reading comments about how unemployed IT workers need to learn something that employers are willing to pay for....is that not why we worked so hard to get all those certs in the first place. MCSE, CCNA, CCNP.... Now they are not even good to use as toilet paper! I think that those who are bragging about how good they are and how indispensible they are should thank GOD for there good fortune and not be so arrogant. EOM

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

FYI - IT salaries accross EU are 10 to 15 percent less than US... moving towards the east... 50 to 70 percent lower... i used to work in south east asia in a big IT dev firm... a developper was paid 3K US a YEAR !!!!!!! am now working in the EU and i got hired cause i speak 3 languages... not so much cause of my IT skills :( yep... now, not only we need to be IT pro, we also need to be able to communicate with asian IT... think about it... this is reality, and this is nuts !

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Dan Ohio

Hey! I work for McDonald's. Also, I am a student in Computer Science and no, I am not a 20 something; I am 43. I made 46K last year-that is from working in a McD's "flipping" burgers, not in coporate job. Don't overlook small, specialty companies out there that are filling a niche market. I am doing part time work for one such company right now. Hopefully, within a few years and with additional education and experience I can make the change in occupations. And I already figure on taking a pay cut.

Look for a niche and don't overlook smaller companies. If that doesn't work, we are always looking for good managers. The job is not as easy as most people think

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

To Getaclue: You ARE a socialist, you just don't realize it. You're also pretty paranoid. Everyone is out to get you and your job. Everyone! As long as you keep blaming everyone else (those damn space people are stealing our brains!) you'll be the one working at McDonalds. You may not even last there. Sounds like you took an economics class or two, so obviously know everything. I got news for you, as long as we're overpaid in comparison to other countries, they'll keep taking our jobs. It's survival of the fittest, moron. Remember the crap autos our country produced in the 70s and 80s? American autoworkers got paid more than those from any other country, but put out the worst crap. I own a Honda. You can call me unamerican, but I got tired of buying overpriced crap that broke down all the time. Competition from the Japanese force American automakers to put out a better product. They never would have otherwise! That's what competition does. The consumer ultimately benefits. you say that 90k is a decent paying job? Compared to who? Check out the median pay for American workers. Remember that some of those went to school for YEARS to earn what they do, not study for a few months for some MCSE. You obviously think pretty highly of yourself. Just because you made high salaries in the past doesn't mean you were EVER worth it. You're just a baby.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

The development tools and resources available today have allowed just about anyone to become a self proclaimed EXPERT in one thing or another. This opened the door for people with very little experience and or incompetence to become competitive and flood the market. Companies can now afford to cut dependable higher paid engineers, and seek low cost EXPERTS in specific areas, or merely outsource the work to lowest bidder. Never mind that the solid higher paid engineer can cross technologies and architectures and maintain in house expertise. Interestingly enough, the percentage of successful software projects are still low while competition is higher than ever, and has now included off shore competition. Since companies will continue to seek the cheapest employment and or cheapest solutions to save a buck or two, they will ultimately get what they pay for…more failed projects or more rewrites and redesigns. Pay Now or Pay Later, but the money will be spent eventually. What development teams really need are better IT Managers, Sales folks, and CEOs that understand software development. Talk about INCOMPETENCE and being OVERPAID!!

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

There seems to be less and less I.T jobs and more and more I.T students!

Perfectly said they pump these kiddies out and promise them high paying jobs in computers. Worst part is most of them have never touched a computer before. Im waiting for the lawsuits to spring up against these places for falsely advertising an IT boom when its a dead zone for the last 2 years.

Sue for your money back kids the technology boom is dead.

I have not seen a school newbie hired in over 3 years since there are tons of qualified applicants who cant find work.

As for positions that pay good. Blame your contracting agencys greed. A lot of jobs still pay good but your recruiters are taking more of the pie and putting in worse technicians making it bad for everyone.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

Bill,
It's Fox News. As it's worth nothing to me and everything to you, we will split the difference. I'll take controlling interest in the liberal radio network to be named later. As to your comments to Getaclue, I am glad you rely on no one but yourself. Me, I rely on everybody. I rely on the police, firefighters, military, schools, roads, airports, EPA, OSHA, the whole lot. In Bush's world we would starve government and go back to midieval justice where landowners built moats around their castles. Defending yourself, building your own roads, creating your own markets would cost you a lot more than you are paying in taxes now. But then you probably would not get the opportunity anyway as only the landlords would have the money. Let's talk about how to make government work better, not how to abolish it. This is a great country. Democracy, capitalism, government, unions, and even lawyers all worked together to make it that way.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Getaclue Boston

My argument is not "the world owes me a position with a comfortable salary just because I chose it" You are lost.

I have an MBA, CCNA, CCA, MCSE, and 8 years experience in global multinational environments.
This is not the resume of someone who is a slacker. I'm not a liberal and don't believe in government handouts. I'm disgusted by individuals that always have their hand out. I have never been layed off for more than 6 months. I laugh when I hear people like you say you have freedom of choice and rely on no one but yourself.
I don't consider myself a victim. I'm in the top 20% wage earners in this country. I feel fortunate to have a job and feel that I have worked my way up from the bottom.
I do feel that most CEO's could give a rat's ass about you and me and I choose to stand up and say something, while guys like you, take it up the you know what and move on , for a lower paying job in another field.
It takes a real man to stand up against the greed that is taking place in Corporate Board rooms.

I think it is a joke that Bush gives big corporations huge tax breaks and allows these same companies to ship US jobs overseas.
You somehow seem to miss this point.

Go to GNP.org and check out some articles. I don't agree with everything this guy writes, he is right when he says that we can't compete with the lower income countries.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 dotnet consulting Anonymous

Our boss told us about two years ago, there would be a salary freeze for us. But when i read the company annual reports, all the corporate directors, officers got at least 10% compensation increase. We are a IT consulting company, why just us, consultants, got salary freeze!! I am a MCSD, MCAD, OCP DBA, SCJP and tons of projects experience. Although I am among the top performers of the company, my salary is not, not even average. Company needs do a better job to differentiate the good versus the average, or we will all leave once we have chance.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Bill Nashville TN

Getaclue: I didn't resort to name calling like you did. That's the true liberal way- call names and rely on emotionalism when you don't have a valid argument. I simply stated that your viewpoint that the gov't should do something about your problems is socialistic. It is. I moved to this career after it became too difficult to make a living in my previous one. When it becomes too difficult to make a career in this one, I'll move again. I'm an able bodied man with above average intelligence. I can take care of myself- and I doubt I'll be working at McDonalds- although I wouldn't rule that out if it became necessary as I don't feel the world owes me a position with a comfortable salary in my chosen field just because I chose it. I will always be in control of my own life because I have freedom of choice and rely on no one but myself. People like you who consider themselves victims of some conspiracy will always be whining. It's nothing new.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Bill Nashville TN

To Anonymous with the cable news network for sale- how much do you want for it?

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Getaclue Boston

Nashville Bill, You are living in a glass house man! Anonoymous, You hit the nail right on the head. Come out of the closet Bill! I know you're dad is a CEO at one of these companies. You are really scared to the truth about how crooked the American Capitalist society that we all operate in is. Didn't the corporate scandals at Enron, WorldCom, American Airlines, etc. give you any reason for skepticism toward American CEO's? Or do you not follow what is going on in your country? You sound like you are glued to your Computer and are oblivious to what is going on around you.
Elevate your thinking. Our jobs are going overseas..not just technology jobs. financial analysts, and any service related jobs as well. It has been printed in the Wall Street Journal as recently as 3 weeks ago. Type a search in google.com and educate yourself on this very important issue.
I'm not for socialism. I'm for equal opportunity for all Americans at the decent paying jobs ie 50K-90K. These jobs are being moved because companies can get away with it. If you make things more difficult for these companies to move jobs overseas, the multi-million dollars retirement parachutes would have to be pared down and CEO's would be more accountable for their own misdeeds ie GREED.
You can try calling me a Socialist. That makes you sound like the un-educated jack ass that you are. I'm a realist and you are living in a dream world. Get ready to start flipping burgers at McDonald's. That is where your philosophy is taking you.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 SuckITup everywhere

I am tired of reading these wimpy @$$ stories. Go back to serving me at McDonald's and adjust your lifestyle accordingly.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Sean Atlanta

If you're a network admin, mcse, etc you can expect lower salaries. There's way too many people in that sector! When the boom hit, and everyone decided to jump into IT they had a couple of choices...1)Be a developer 2)Be a Systems Engineer. If you took the easy route to become an SE like the other 2 or 3 million people then what do you expect? If you want to be successful in IT you need to distinguish yourself apart from everyone else! How can you add value to an organization? I've never had a problem finding a job, and I switched jobs twice during the worst times, and got raises both times! You get paid what you're worth. If you don't invest in your career, then no one will invest in you. The recession never affected me, or most of the top notch devs I know. It's all about talent, and weeding those without talent out. If you've been out of work for a year go find something else please. Leave IT to the professionals!

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

Nashville Bill,
If you think our economy even remotely resembles basic supply and demand anymore I've got a cable news network to sell you. It's a whole new world where foreign governments, working with multi-national corporations, educate, train and hire people at half the cost to take our jobs. Then they themselves re-locate to Bermuda to avoid paying their fair share. The little fishbowl meritocracy you live in gets smaller everyday. When the middle class wakes up to the Bush led assault on their jobs and way of life we will see who takes control of their own lives.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Annoyed New Jersey

I'm making less now than I was in 1998 doing more work with lots more responsibility. Being a consultant I fear for my job everyday but the company has no "employees" that can handle the work that I do, but yet they will cut my pay and expect the same if not more. I'm ready to buy a hotdog wagon and seel hotdogs at the Amusment Park.. :-(

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Steve Birmingham AL

I rode it up the income scale, now I am riding down! I enjoy working in this field so I am going to stick it out. I believe this recession will shake out the people who are in it just for the money!

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Bill Nashville TN

To getaclue: You seem to be aptly named. You make statements that you're sure I'm this... you're sure I'm that. You know nothing about me. Actually, I'm a Desktop Support Tech for a medium sized enterprise. I just don't blame my problems on others. Unamerican? You're the one with the socialistic viewpoint. I don't want or need the gov't to solve my problems for me. As for taking economics, the basic law of our capitalistic economic system is supply and demand- that's Econ 101 in college. There is a large supply of people who can do what we do- so the demand for our services is down. Be a man and take control of your own life.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Milw, WI

I am currently unemployed (since Feb) and I have seen posted salaries dropping even in the last few months. Most network admin type jobs are in the $35-55,000 range while help desk and desktop support jobs are generally in the $30-45,000 range. These are usually for people with 2+ years of experience. Four years ago, I was hiring desktop support people with NO experience in the $35-45,000 range.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Iceman California

Who do they think that they are fooling?!?! If you can find a job (ie know someone with a job that can get you in) chances are you will make 25-50% less of what you did at any other job. I'm making less than 50k and have been doing this for 18 years. Luckily the job will provide hands on experience with new stuff. MCSE doesnt mean shit when they can get someone cheaper. Damn foreigners!! I'd say got home but most of them are home!!! hahahhaha

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Louisville KY

Does this sound like the 70's and steel industry? Those 'highly skilled’ workers drove salaries to the point that companies could not compete with US produced steel. Putting tariffs on imports is creating a false economy. The real answer is creating value -- in what you can produce. The fact that your skill sets are not unique and can easily done from other nations should provide a stimulus to create a greater value of your skill sets. America is the greatest country in the world and capitalism is based on competition. Us ITers need to stop focusing on lost jobs and focus on creating unique, unreproducable results (not available from overseas). This can be considered Darwinism -- only the strong survive -- not the guys crying the loudest as they are getting wiped out!

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Jeff South Carolina

I have worked in IT for six years, the last three as a systems admin. My salary peaked at $48K before I was laid off 9 months ago. Although I have taken 30 hours of comp sci classes in that same period I have yet to interview for a job that paid as much. My unemployment ran out two weeks ago and I'm interviewing for a job that pays $28K and praying I get it. My wife works as network admin and has been putting in 70-80 hour weeks because her company won't hire the staff they need to let their people live normal lives. If she were not on salary and could get overtime she would be better off making what she did as an intern four years ago. Something has to give or people will start leaving the field.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 get a clue boston

Bill,
I'm sure your the same stiff that farmed out several jobs and layed off your entire department and stuffed your bonus with the extra cash you saved.
You are un-American. I'm sure you feel that NAFTA is a good thing for the US.
Well, your elitist view will come back to bite you in the ass some day. Eventually, your corporation is going to figure out that they don't need you. Akmud over in India can do what you can for one-5th of the cost.
Free trade with poor countries is bad for the American economic climate. The middle class is what fuels GDP in this country and by shipping these jobs overseas, corporations are gaining in the short term (cost cutting) but losing in the long term with a weakened economy which will cause deflation and less profits,which will hurt the stock price.
You need to take an economics class!

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 FAHKOV Anonymous

This will open your eyes and help you consider other meaningful jobs like taxi driver or toiler bowl cleaner.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

Funny how the information revolution we created is moving off-shore. We built the systems and infrastructure to make the global marketplace possible, now we export the jobs to India. We tell the brick-layers and truck drivers to learn IT, then yank their opportunities away just as they get going. Cruel world.
Bush and company are at war with the workers, so don't expect things to improve any time soon.
Good luck all.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Bill Nashville TN

All of you whining about corporations doing you wrong fail to understand where a corp's responsiblities lie. A corp's ONLY responsibility is to make a profit for it's shareholders- not to provide you with a comfortable living- that's your responsibility. It's true I.T. is down right now, but no one is holding a gun to your head forcing you to stay in this field. Your career is your responsibility- not someone else's. If you don't like your job or the I.T. field don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out. The main problem in this country these days is everyone blaming their problems on someone else.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Melanoma Florida

Actually, you are very correct, Buck from Florida. We all got the benefit of the .COM era, money for nothing and our chicks for free, and companies got the shaft (actually, the venture capitalists did). They aren't going to let that happen again.

And I pity those who jumped the education ship to grab at those high-paying jobs, and now don't have the background and job history to compete in a lean market.

I have survived each and every lean time, and I will continue to do so, because I don't expect to make millions of dollars doing this for the rest of my life...

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Unhappy EDSer Chicago, IL

EDS really SUCKS! They continue to ship positions to India and South America and the new CEO has jut announced ADDITIONAL job cuts.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Rex Houston, TX

Anyone claiming that IT compensation haven't gone down sharply must be seriously uninformed. I am an MCSE, CCNP earning below the average. I was laid off from Boeing a few months after 9-11. There are definitely fewer jobs and companies are paying little to nothing for skillsets that were worth 6-figures in 2000. Bottomline, fewer jobs, many candidates, extremely poor compensation when compared to the boom days.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

EDS is REAL BAD to work for!!!

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous US Midwest

I work for a contact manufacturer (EMS company), we've haven't seen raises since April 2000. I think executive management got burned out on IT Salaries after Y2K. We've just become a global company within the last 3 years and I see a continual shift from our corporate headquarters (CIO Level) to reduce IT headcount in the US and farm IT work to our Asian operations.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

My health care company announced a 25% increase in revenue over same qtr. last year, yet we're told to be lucky to get up to a 3% increase because the IT bubble has gone bust! Our base pay is less than half of what you state in this article. We outsourced and laid off 10 people in my department, however those who remain have larger workloads! In the last few months 5 more quit because it was less stressful to look for other work than to continue to stay here! We just successfully completed two large projects involving an ERP upgrade and a data warehouse implementation, saving the company millions by doing it all inhouse and we saw no bonus. I'm currently doing work that was handled by 3 people a year ago. It looks like some companies that are doing well use the IT downturn as an excuse to hold down on salaries and force us to increase productivity.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

Its not true that H1's are always hired for peanuts. I am on H1 and being paid much more than the average with a decent hike recently. I do not think it is difficult to survive even in these times if you have real worth.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 The Dude Anonymous

I've been in the IT field since 97, I really regret getting into this field. I work for an investment bank firm that is making millions and I do not get compensated at all. I have experience and MCSE, MCSA, and CCNA certs...This field is horrible, you help people with PC problems and they don't appreciate you....

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Dennis Chicago

IT has to come back. It has to! Every company has computers. IT got hit with a double-whammy of the dot-com crash and a general recession. Farming things out to other countries makes good economic sense, but is not free. At some point, there is a balance between farming things out and doing them in the US. IT people were overpaid a few years ago, so everybody and their sister went into it. Get out of IT for now, but be ready when it roars back!

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Buck Florida

This stuff is scary. I'm making well above the industry average, and my company is in the process of consolidating our IT dept. Nobody has mentioned this, but I know that in our company, upper management has been burned several times on IT projects that didn't deliver promised ROI. I'm sure that this has also happened elsewhere. A lot of this has to do with poorly managed IT projects, but I think we need to take some responsibility. Two or three years ago, many of us were making more than the value we were adding to our company. You know, "let's use the latest stuff because it's fun to do so", without always considering what was best for the company. I think we're seeing a reaction to this now, and the only way management will change their view is to prove that IT can add value to their company. Yes, management is concerned with profit, ultimately, that's their job. It should be ours, too. If we truly make that our priority, management will ultimately see that an investment of $100,000 in technology WILL return much more in profit and cost savings. That hasn't always been the case. When an expensive project fails, they're the ones that get the black eye, and they'll be wary to make that same mistake again. we have to prove it to them one successful project at a time. I'm not defending management, but they are the ones who ultimately hire us or budget the money for IT, so we need to start understanding their motives better. It IS all about profit. That's capitalism. That's not going to change. It they allow the company to lose money, THEY will be the ones looking for jobs.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Chris Atlanta

At the risk of being provocative, I will say that IT salaries leveling off is a GOOD thing in the long run. Does anyone really think that it was a healthy thing to have some dolt who only knew html working at a dot-bomb making as much money as a M.D.? We are in a recession, and still have a ways to go to work off the excesses and malinvestments of the late 90's. After this is over, all the poseurs, gold diggers and wannabes will be weeded out, leaving the people who really LOVE the field and are among the best.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 dot.gone Anonymous

2 years after I lost my last job I got a temporary job of one month. I have an MS degree in Computer Science. I am CCNP, MCSE NT/W2K and CNA . I can only make half I made 2 years ago and have no benifit at all. I am in my mid-age. I really appreciate I can have a job now. However, I need to start worry about my future career. I really don't know my next step.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Texas

I don't know about the other disciplines in IT, but for software development, it is definitely shifting to oversea locations like India. This is partially thanks to the component design and nature of today's software. Oversea programmers no longer need to know the business (which is our only edge). All they need are the detail design specs. So in another word, the component design of software that makes our work more efficient is also taking our jobs away.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Brian Detroit

Like everyting, things change. MS and other software companies are making things "easier" for the IT folks to manage. We all run to install the latest stuff and don't realize what we are really doing is hurting ourself. Nothing easy comes for free. If you have a cake job then your salary will reflect it. Just because you have a MCSE or some other certification doesn't mean you get the big bucks. It's all about what you know, not what you have.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Brian Detroit

Like everyting, things change. MS and other software companies are making things "easier" for the IT folks to manage. We all run to install the latest stuff and don't realize what we are really doing is hurting ourself. Nothing easy comes for free. If you have a cake job then your salary will reflect it. Just because you have a MCSE or some other certification doesn't mean you get the big bucks. It's all about what you know, not what you have.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Philip Louisville Kentucky

Each of us made a choice to certify. I'm guessing many of us don't have a 4 year degree. Now that it's no longer a gravy train, many of you complain that it's harder to find work. Do what you love- or re-tool for another career... chances are that's how you got where you are now, by re-tooling from something else... you can do it again- find what you love and quit yer bitchin!

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Getaclue boston

Anonymous: You really need to get a clue. I totally agree with Tom. American companies, in particular upper level managers and CEO's, who hire these H1B visas for peanuts, all the while giving themselves millions of dollars of bonus and stock option money. The only true way the middle class IT worker will survive is for legislation to be passed to make it damn near impossible ie very unprofitable for big companies to outsource their jobs to lower standard of living countries like India, China, etc. New Jersey, PA, and other places have already filed legislation to do just this very thing....save American jobs. Pretty soon, if things don't change, we will have the very wealthy and poor..No more middle class and no decent paying service jobs..not just IT jobs..

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

If you all think it is tough in the corporate world, try working in the Educational environment...............We will be lucky to keep our jobs without seeing PAY reductions and cuts to our benefits..........................Lucky to get a measly 2% raise last year while the administrators group gives themselves 12 to 14 %..........

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

To Tom: What do you want Congress to do? Legislate jobs. Go live in China. This is a free market economy here and capitalism reigns. I suggest you try to do something that someone is willing to pay for. THat's the way it works here!

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

I must say that I am one of the few that received a raise, but only because of other cuts that I made. We got rid of a part-time tech (who wasn't really needed anyway), and also implemented Citrix a couple of years ago. Since then, our equipment costs have fallen, as well as the time it takes me to fix any problems.

Fri, Jun 20, 2003 Anonymous glasgow

YET AGAIN CORPORATE AMERICA SHOWS THE WORLD HOW TO SUCK THE LIFE OUT OF A THRIVING INDUSTRY IN THE QUEST FOR ANOTHER DOLLAR,
GOD BLESS AMERICA

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 David Germany

It’s the same all over the world. I’m in Germany, since finding an IT job in the US was close to impossible. A while back I got a raise, mostly to try and keep me there once my contract ran out. This year they did not give me a new contract, but instead decided to hire a contractor. Good thing I’m the only one that knows what is going on in the projects - they organized a position for me at the outsourcing company and ordered me as the contractor. My main project right now - IT Department consolidation: 3 locations with 3 IT Departments melting into 1 saving personnel.

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

Who the heck do you guys work for? I’m feeling sorry for you, and I rarely feel sorry for anyone.

The company I work for is on a SERIOUS hiring spree, and we are 1500 people strong. I have been so busy over the past year that my head is literally swimming. I am currently on a 4-day vacation but is the first one I have taken in about 1 and a half years.

The funny part about the “off shoring” theory is that I am concerned about my international travel. I know of several people from the states that are currently working overseas, and I am literally praying that I am not next, although I think I am getting ready to be shipped out…so much for your “off shoring” theories. HEY…IF I LIVE IN THE STATES AND GET STATIONED OVERSEAS FOR ‘IT’ WORK, DOES THAT MAKE ME AN “OFF SHORER ”…. Give me a break!

I think what we are seeing is some globalization tactics going on, but mostly we are witnessing some consolidation here in the U.S. I certainly wouldn’t say that we are washed up. I’m so busy that my years are beginning to blend with one another.

Have fun!

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Idiots Anonymous

Ok, todd from seattle Im real scared now... Your gonna compete... What an idiot, whens the last time you were touched by a woman not including your mother...

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Network Admin Long Beach, CA

I received a 4% raise in Nov. 2002 which brought me up to $46,000. I've got an MCSE and a Bachelor's degree in Business: Info Sys. I've looked at network admin jobs out there and they're only paying in the $40,000 range. I've been looking to get out of my job for the past year and have gotten 0 answers from job postings on Monster, Dice, etc. Yet, training companies are still touting demand in the IT industry. The IT industry is oversaturated. If you are new to IT, think of another career even if you've already invested time and money.

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Todd Seattle

The truth is that anyone could get a job in 2000. Even if you were incompetent. Companies were spending money like they had it. They were falsely inflating salaries just like their earnings.

I am not suprised though. They are just living like we taught them. We live off of credit, buy more crap than we need, and place our selves deeper in dept.

It pisses me off when people whine, especially when they placed themselves in that position in the first place.

I was hired in 2001, after the decline had already started, and have seen over 15K in raises since. Make yourself valuable or move over, because I don't care where they send the jobs. I will compete....

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Idiots Anonymous

I guess all those h1 visa sponsered people taking all the jobs here and working for peanuts didnt help either. Its the corporations that are the problem. They either bring them here or outsource it to other countries. The Govt should really focus on this instead of tax breaks that give these corporations even more breaks while we suffer!
This is not a prejudiced statement its the reason why there are no IT jobs period.

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Warren Anonymous

I hold an MCSE, BSc and an MBA and my salary has increased by 5% over the last year. I however feel unsettled about the future of I.T jobs as more and more I.T staff are being laid off. I think that automation, perception of I.T by senior managers, some I.T personnel needs to try to over produce all seem to contribute to the demise of I.T.
There seems to be less and less I.T jobs and more and more I.T students!

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

I would love to see 40k a year. I'm MCSE CCNA and A plus making 27k a year as a Network Analyst. I am the sole contact for multiple huge locations and hundreds of people in a network that is bursting at the seams. I work 12 hour shifts with no freaking lunch because I have no time. My employer is cheap. I am overworked like a slave. My phone rings non-stop like it is broken. The "special needs" people I deal with call my boss to complain when I ask them to reboot their computers to start the troubleshooting process. There is gonna be a big surprise when I walk with no notice to show my gratitude--I just have to find another job first. DOH!!!

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Tom Anonymous

I have not gotten a raise in 18 months. Some people in my company haven't gotten a raise in over 2 years. We are laying off 2 people in my department tomorrow morning (yes, really), and I will be taking over the responsibilities of 1 while I maintain my own job and will get no raise out of it. I am MCSE, CCNA, and halfway to CCNP certified, and make less than the average in the article. Congress must take some measures to bring our jobs back, this is wrong and UnAmerican.

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

In my business we are seeing more centralized control with only one or at most two IT people in the various locations around the country. We just bought another company that had an average of 5 people at each factory and have been told that most of those positions will be gone in 4 to 5 years.

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 increase @ a cost Anonymous

I work for a growing insurance company or a TPA if you know what that is.
We have 1 main office with 5 small branch offices with a total of about 350 employee's all of which work off of pc's.
My salary has gone up (as well as my work load) at the expences of the IT guys at the branch offices, they were laid off to save money and I got to take over all of their work.
So yeah some people are seeing an increasae in salary but at the cost of a others loosing jobs

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

I have of numbers passed by some hiring managers that they could get somebody 35-40% cheaper than they did several years ago. But companies are shifting jobs overseas where they could get 3-4 heads for 1 US head. Go figure...

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

I'm curious how unemployed IT workers were counted.. Even if 5% of those polled were cyrrently unemployed, that would make a bg difference in the average

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 broke in Miami Anonymous

Jobs at 60 to 80K were common in 2000 now you are looking at about 35 to 55K if you can find a JOB!!!

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

The number of jobs in the U.S. has gone down by thousands in IT as big corporations send jobs to India, China and Russia. I suspect salaries for IT professionals in those countries must be skyrocketing for local standards, much as they did in the U.S. during the boom times. We moved the boom offshore. I suspect the survivors of the job cuts in the U.S. are the ones being referred to in this article. I also suspect those workers are doing the work that several employees did a few years ago, and are working their fool heads off, relying on the warm glow from remaining employed for satisfaction, instead of bankable stock options and bonuses.

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Fitz Cleveland, Ohio

Like several of my IT friends, I am now making HALF of what I was making in early 2002. Many people I know have exhausted unemploment compensation while looking for ANYTHING paying over $42k or so.

From my own anecdotal experience, I find it pretty hard to believe there is not a VERY sharp drop in IT salaries over the past 2 years. Job searches in the past were quick and easy. I have been slaving away on the job search for 10 months now and finally just had to take the opportunity promising the most "potential" for a real salary in the future.

Thu, Jun 19, 2003 Anonymous Anonymous

Well, I've done IT for better than 10 years with flat / decreasing money over the past couple. I'd love to see salaries go up - but it looks like the salaries are going up as the number of IT positions for a given company are cut...

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