Skills Survey 2006: IT salaries dip

IT workers are bringing home lower average salaries than in 2005.

According to silicon.com's exclusive 2006 Skills Survey, the percentage of IT workers earning 'below £25,000' has increased by a sizable eight percentage points.

At the same time, fewer are earning the higher salaries. The proportion making £40,001 to £70,000 dropped six percentage points from last year to make up a third of respondents. And about 25 per cent fewer claim per-annum salaries of more than £70,000 compared to 2005.

But it's not all bad news as the percentage of IT workers earning less than £40,000 has dropped to 44 per cent from 56 per cent in 2005.

How much workers earn, of course, depends on their title.

The Skills Survey reveals, unsurprisingly, that the CEOs, CFOs and COOs are the top earners, with 20 per cent of these high-fliers earning more than £110,001 and 28 per cent with a salary of £70,001 to £110,000.

CIOs don't do badly for themselves either, with 22 per cent in the over-£110,001 club and 26 per cent in the £70,001 to £110,000 range. But that still leaves a significant portion - nearly 40 per cent - who earn a more modest yearly income of between £40,001 and £70,000.

That's the salary range many IT managers claim - 45 per cent, according to the Skills Survey. About a third come in one notch lower, earning £25,001 to £40,000. A fortunate 13 per cent of IT managers earn big bucks of more than £70,000, with just three per cent in the topmost category of more than £110,000.

IT consultants do well for themselves. Around 60 per cent of respondents with that job title earn between £25,001 and £55,000 - roughly the same as IT pros and software/web developers. But significantly more IT consultants bring in top salaries of between £55,001 and £110,000 - 29 per cent compared to 16 per cent in the IT pro crowd.

At the same time, nearly a quarter of IT pros and software/web developers make do with less than £25,000 compared to less than 10 per cent of IT consultants in that salary range.

The results are based on responses from 1,198 individuals.

Read more Skills Survey results:

• IT pros fear offshoring, CIOs don't
• Business skills key to success in IT

We will be bringing you more results from the silicon.com 2006 Skills Survey over the coming days and weeks.