Half of UK IT professionals awarded pay rise and bonus in 2011

Almost half of UK IT professionals received a pay rise last year, according to TechTarget’s CIO/IT Strategy Media Group IT salary and career survey.
The survey of 600 UK companies, in November 2011, found 46% of respondents received a pay rise. Furthermore, 33% said they received a bonus. Only 0.6% said they had experienced a pay cut.
Senior executives, including CIOs, CTO, VPs and CISOs, averaged their current salaries at£64,000, rising to £93,000 with bonuses and commission. The average base wage came to £45,500, rising to £50,500 with bonuses and commission.
Some 46% of respondents anticipated a pay rise in 2012. The survey found 36% expected another bonus, with only 0.2% predicting a pay cut.
However, Jim Albert, managing director of IT staffing and recruiting agency Modis International, said he had not witnessed large raises in salaries and bonuses: “Most people move jobs for the same money or are taking pay cuts to move in to roles they feel will develop them further in their career through learning new and different skills.”
IT recruitment agency Computer People produce a monthly trackercovering IT job vacancies, salaries and jobs that are most in demand. In contrast to TechTarget’s findings, Computer People’s February report found permanent salaries took a nose dive with declines recorded against all key IT positions, apart from web developers (increase of 0.09%) and project managers (increase of 0.001%).
Sid Barnes, executive director of Computer People, said: “While we saw sharp salary increases at the beginning of 2011, 2012 started off a little slower due to cautious spending. But it appears that hiring managers are willing to pay for quality.”
Malcolm Cowley, CEO of technology provider, Performance Horizon Group, said that, as a technology start-up it recognises the importance of rewarding staff with monetary incentives, including bonuses and pay rises.
"We believe to keep ahead of the game in the technology industry that monetary rewards are as important as a happy and balanced work life, especially as we work through the end of a difficult recession,” said Cowley.