CIO compensation almost doubles at largest firms

CIOs are inching their way toward the stratospheric compensation levels commanded by chief executives.

Baseline's annual compensation survey found that CIOs from the largest companies in the U.S. are raking in an average of almost 50 percent more in total compensation as compared to last year. Fat bonuses were the primary driver.  According to a senior economist Baseline cites, those tech executives that "generally demonstrated needle-sharp business skills," made significant financial gains. 

The highest paid CIO, Jon Beyman, is collecting a whopping $5.9 million from his company, Lehman Brothers.  

The CIO salary boom reflects the increasing criticality of the role in organizations, but as Baseline points out, it is a rare occurrence because the market for technology professionals is flat and competition from non-U.S. workers is growing. 

Unfortunately, the imbalance can widen if the CIO community gives in to the infectious greed that has gripped chief executives in the past.