Salaries in IT and telecoms rise 7.5 per cent

Average salaries for IT professionals increase from £43,000 last year to £46,000 in 2011

The average salary for IT and telecoms professionals has increased by 7.5 per cent in 2011 compared with 2010, according to research from IT and telecoms recruiter Greythorn.

The increase brings the average salary in the industry from £43,000 to £46,000.

In addition, 56 per cent of professionals surveyed receive a bonus, with the average bonus payment now at 19 per cent of their annual salary.

This is equivalent to an average of £8,740, as the average total remuneration for this group is just under £54,800.

The research also showed that the length of the average working week in the sector did not increase significantly - average working hours rose by just 0.3 per cent to 36.9 hours per week. This brings the hourly pay rate up by 6.7 per cent, from £22.60 per hour to £24.10.

There was also differing opinion on the expected growth of the IT and telecoms job market, as a third (33 per cent) of permanently employed IT and telecoms professionals believe their employers will reduce headcount in the next 12 months, versus 41 per cent who expect numbers to increase in that period.

"When you look at what's happening to salaries, it's clear employers are having to pay a premium to get the right people, so it's surprising that a third of professionals still feel pessimistic about the future," commented Paul Winchester, managing director of Greythorn.

"Professionals worried about their prospects in the coming year should remember that the market for talented people is booming. If you aren't feeling confident about the future of your current role, it might pay big dividends to consider your options elsewhere."