Analyst Watch: Hopes Rise For Raises

After two years of no raises for many IT workers, most technology professionals are optimistic about getting fatter paychecks in 2004, according to a new report. Based on the 2,150 IT professionals who participated in Brainbench's 2003 salary survey, only 11% expect to receive no raises in 2004. That's positive thinking, compared with the 43% who reported that they received no raises in 2003. Sixty-two percent of respondents say they expect increases ranging from 1% to 5% in 2004. In 2003, 23% received raises of 1% to 3%.

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

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