In-house IT workers in AU grab the cash
Mercer Human Resources Consulting said that an IT professional with around two to three years experience in Australia had the potential to earn in excess of 20 percent above the average general market wage. The consultancy made the comments following the release of their report into salary differentials worldwide.
Mercer principal, Rob Knox, said in a statement these so-called "IT premiums" suggested entry-level IT professionals were highly valued, "especially in an industry facing a potential skills shortage in emerging technologies".
"These premiums suggest that companies may have to pay higher wages to attract talented individuals with specialist skills to join their internal IT departments rather than lose them to careers in commercial IT consulting," said Knox.
The report stated, however, that the salary gap between in IT and other jobs closes as careers progress. Knox said other professions were playing "catch-up" with IT.
"In other jobs the rate of salary increases are greater than in IT, but IT has a good foundation wage," said Knox.
Knox adds that the results attest that IT is a "great place to start a career in Australia", as the report also showed that domestic IT wages are among the top ten globally.
Australian IT "team leaders" were ranked the 8th best paid globally with an average earning of AU$69,700; "supervisors" were ranked 9th on AU$89,400; and managers came in 10th on a wage of AU$107,600.
Switzerland topped the ranks of all four of the categories listed (team leader, supervisor, manager and senior manager); outdoing Germany and Hong Kong in all circumstances by at least US$10,000.
The Philippines ranked as the lowest paying nation in all slots, followed closely by Vietnam and Bulgaria.