IT Pros More Optimistic About Raises

After two years of no raises for many IT workers, most IT pros are optimistic about getting fatter paychecks in 2004, according to a new report.

Based on the 2,150 IT professionals who participated in online skills-assessment firm Brainbench's 2003 salary survey, only 11% expect to receive no raises in 2004. That's positive thinking, compared with the 43% who reported they received no raises in 2003 and the 36% who didn't get raises in 2002.

Sixty-two percent say they expect increases ranging from 1% to 5% in 2004. In 2003, 66% received raises of 3% or less.

"After two years of a negative trend, there seems to be a positive trend--new optimism developing," says Mike Russiello, Brainbench's president and CEO. Among the most optimistic of IT professionals about getting raises are those who work as IT generalists, database pros, and in computer systems management and operations. The next group of positive-thinkers include application developers, and network management and administration professionals.

Among the other findings was a growing disparity between the pay of male and female IT professionals. At employers with less than $5 billion in revenue, men earn about $10,000 more than woman in similar positions. The pay gap is even bigger at companies of $1 billion or less--about $20,000, Russiello says. The gap between men's and women's pay is smallest at companies bigger than $5 billion. Says Russiello: "There was a lot more equity at the largest companies."