That's as part of the continuing increase in management compensation, according to recruiting and placement firm ExecuNet. Market forces like globalization and the retiring baby-boomer bulge are keeping executive talent in demand, which is a good thing for job offers and pay hikes. But is the CIO the only IT job category benefiting?

Here are details of an ExecuNet survey sent to me in e-mail (though I don't see it on the company's Web site):

According to the survey of 1,098 business leaders, executive compensation increased 5.7% during the last year, and is expected to grow an additional 6.2% during the next 12 months. While the annual compensation of C-suite executives averaged $206,000, salaries varied significantly according to function:

Finance -- $236,000
General management -- $216,000
Sales -- $204,000
MIS/IT -- $201,000
Marketing -- $186,000
Human resources -- $185,000

"In light of increasing scrutiny and today's economic headlines, rising executive compensation speaks volumes about the demand for top talent," said Mark Anderson, ExecuNet president, in a statement.

Still, I guess money doesn't buy happiness. In a previous survey by ExecuNet, reported in June, IT executives scored as the management category most dissatisfied with their jobs (Satisfied with current job: CFO = 68%; general management = 61%; sales = 54%; MIS/IT = 53%).

Funny thing is, ExecuNet's results don't jibe with the trends we found in our recent salary survey research survey, where both IT staff and IT managers report a median pay decrease, down about $2,000 from last year. (You can read a report about that
here, or you can purchase the entire salary survey analytics report here; both require registration.)

There are IT jobs that are showing signs of salary life, such as the title "IT architect." My colleague Chris Murphy blogged about that here. Of course, maybe the ExecuNet survey was referring to CIOs only.

Which sounds like you: Upwardly mobile, salary-wise, or stuck in the weeds? Where are you on this salary spectrum, and do you expect your salary to increase this year?

Perhaps most important: Are you happy in your job? Let me know.