October 23, 2008
Please contact Michael Weiss for copies of the 2009 Salary Guides from Robert
Half International. Your readers can order free copies of the guides by visiting
www.rhi.com/SalaryGuides or calling (800) 803-8367.
2009 ROBERT HALF SALARY GUIDES IDENTIFY JOB MARKET BRIGHT SPOTS
Research Reveals In-Demand Accounting, Technology and Office-Support Positions
Even in the current economy, certain skill sets remain difficult to find,
according to the 2009 Salary Guides from Robert Half International. The recently
released guides point to modest overall salary increases for accounting,
information technology (IT) and administrative roles, but highlight specialized
expertise that can enhance a professional’s marketability. This includes account
reconciliation and credit/collections experience for accountants and web
development skills for IT professionals.
“Companies highly value employees who can identify cost efficiencies, develop
long-range business strategies and maximize the use of technology,” said Max
Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. “Adding to the
competition for those with specialized skills is a growing reluctance on the
part of many professionals to leave secure employment situations in an
unpredictable economy. This has made it a challenge for hiring managers to
attract these workers.”
2009 Hiring Outlook: Accounting and Finance
Overall, the 2009 research forecasts a salary increase of 3.4 percent for
finance and accounting staff. Companies are showing the most interest in
professionals who can help their firms reduce inefficiencies and enhance
profitability. Those who are familiar with International Financial Reporting
Standards (IFRS) also are marketable.
Following are three in-demand finance and accounting positions:
• Staff and senior accountants – Companies are hiring accountants to oversee
core duties such as maintaining the general ledger, performing account analysis
and reconciliation, correcting journal entries, and performing the monthly
close. Demand is strong for CPAs with at least three years of experience.
Starting salaries for staff accountants at large companies (more than $250
million in sales) who have one to three years of experience, for example, are
projected to range from $44,500 to $57,250.
• Public accountants – Public accounting firms continue to look for highly
skilled professionals to help clients address fundamental accounting, tax and
audit issues. Firms seek experienced accountants who can help offset an
anticipated acceleration in baby boomer retirements in coming years. Starting
salaries for senior accountants in tax services at small public accounting firms
(less than $25 million in sales) are forecast to range from $54,000 to $69,250.
• Credit and collections specialists – The current credit crunch has made
companies even more cognizant of the critical role of the credit and collections
functions in managing credit risk and collecting from delinquent accounts.
Organizations are hiring professionals who can help reduce inefficiencies and
enhance profitability. Credit and collections clerks at midsize companies ($25
million to $250 million in sales) are expected to see starting salaries of
$29,250 to $37,500.
2009 Hiring Outlook: Information Technology
IT unemployment remains low relative to many other occupations, driven by the
proliferation of new technology and the need for professionals to support Web
2.0 initiatives to foster information sharing and enable access to applications
stored on web servers. Overall, IT salaries are expected to increase by 3.7
percent next year. A smaller pool of highly skilled candidates for technology
positions, coupled with fewer college graduates with IT-related degrees, is
making it difficult for employers to hire and retain individuals within many
specialties.
Following are three in-demand IT positions:
• Web developers – The rise of social media and the expansion of companies’
online presence, Web 2.0 initiatives and interactive web functionality have
fueled further growth in Internet technologies, creating a strong demand for web
developers. These professionals can expect to see starting salaries in the range
of $60,000 to $89,750 in the coming year.
• Programmer analysts – IT professionals with skills such as .NET, SharePoint,
Java and PHP are at a premium across companies in all industries, including
healthcare, finance and manufacturing. These workers are needed to write code,
test and debug software applications, and analyze business application
requirements for functional areas across the organization. The salary range for
a programmer analyst is expected to be $60,000 to $100,750.
• Help desk professionals – Companies are implementing a wider range of
technologies, migrating from older operating systems and upgrading desktop
systems. This is contributing to the demand for professionals who can
troubleshoot software and hardware problems. Base compensation for Tier 2 help
desk professionals, for example, is projected to range from $36,750 to $48,250.
2009 Hiring Outlook: Administrative and Office Support
Demand for highly skilled administra¬tive professionals remains steady, and
starting salaries are expected to rise 2.6 percent in 2009. As the role of
office support professionals continues to expand, businesses can be expected to
offer moderately higher compensation for the most skilled individuals in certain
positions. Applicants with industry experience, technical aptitude, multilingual
abilities and professional certifications are highly sought.
Following are in-demand administrative positions:
• Customer service representative – Businesses rely on these professionals to
maintain a high level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, which are especially
important in an uncertain economy. Firms also look to these individuals to sell
additional products or services to existing customers. Customer service
representatives are expected to see starting salaries ranging from $22,750 to
$31,000 in the coming year.
• Data entry specialist – IT projects have remained a part of corporate business
plans because they are closely related to revenue generation. Companies need
assistance with data entry during software conversions and upgrades. These
specialists also assist with taking customer orders quickly and accurately.
Starting salaries for data entry specialists are projected to range from $22,000
to $27,750 in 2009.
• Administrative healthcare positions – The healthcare industry continues to
grow, and medical facilities seek administrative professionals with healthcare
experience. Positions in high demand include: medical file clerk/scanner,
medical secretary, patient registration/admissions clerk and credentialing
specialist.
About the 2009 Salary Guides
The new salary guides include the 2009 Salary Guide from Robert Half
International for accounting and finance positions, produced by Accountemps,
Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Robert Half Management Resources; the
Robert Half Technology 2009 Salary Guide for technology professionals; and the
OfficeTeam 2009 Salary Guide for administrative positions.
Since 1950, Robert Half International has produced salary guides to offer
business owners and hiring managers information on prevailing salaries in their
geographic areas and insight into the latest employment trends. Companies
consult the annual guides to determine appropriate compensation for all levels
of accounting and finance, technology, and administrative professionals. In
addition, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics references
the guide when preparing its comprehensive Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Information in the guides is based on the thousands of job searches,
negotiations and placements managed each year by Robert Half’s staffing and
recruiting managers, along with the company’s ongoing surveys of chief financial
officers, chief information officers and other senior executives. Continuing or
ongoing salaries are not reported because many external factors -- such as
seniority, work ethic, job performance and training -- impact the salaries of
full-time professionals as work histories develop.
Robert Half International has more than 360 staffing locations worldwide and
offers online job search services on its divisional websites, all of which can
be accessed at www.rhi.com.