How does your current salary compare with national averages for technology occupations? It's no secret that where you live in the country may have a big impact on what you make, but so can benefits and the cost of living in a given region. Salaries tend to be higher in the Northeast and West Coast cities, while cost of living tends to be lower in the South and Midwest. The following gallery is a clean look at 13 of the most common technology job titles and the national averages of those job titles based on years of experience from one year to 10 years and beyond. Job titles include Data Analyst, Database Administrator, Hardware Engineer, IT Analyst, Network Administrator, Network Engineer, Product Manager, Project Manager, Software Engineer, Systems Administrator, Systems Analyst, Systems Engineer and Technical Support Engineer. The data was provided by Glassdoor.com based on a wealth of information shared anonymously by employees of major U.S. companies through Sept. 16. Glassdoor is unique in that its information on salary, benefits and views of company executives come directly from employee resources without the filter of gatekeepers.
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How Your Salary Stacks Up Against Other IT Pros'
by Don E. Sears
Data Analyst
1-3 Years: $51,648 4-6 Years: $55,838 7-9 Years: $58,864 10 or More Years: $69,358 Jobs in this category encompass business analysts, business intelligence experts, data mining extractors, and anyone bridging the gap between data as a resource for business use and IT. Companies that hire data analysts include Hewlett-Packard and Cisco Systems.
Database Administrator
1-3 Years: $65,079 4-6 Years: $74,004 7-9 Years: $87,643 10 or More Years: $93,440 Oracle, SQL Server and Sybase are the major players here, with Oracle DBAs being highly sought after skill sets, but it never hurts to have your Windows-based certifications in SQL Server with some Sybase on the side. SQL Server is still a major technology in Windows-based data centers and server farms. Companies that hire DBAs include Fiserv and Intel.
Hardware Engineer
1-3 Years: $74,566 4-6 Years: $84,609 7-9 Years: $89,566 10 or More Years: $101,286 Hardware manufacturing took a beating during the recession, but the semiconductor business is still one of the most competitive fields in technology. Processors, microchips and intelligent design are mainstays of a global field. Companies that hire hardware engineering skills include Agilent Technologies and Nvidia.
IT Analyst
1-3 Years: $59,445 4-6 Years: $64,734 7-9 Years: $71,614 10 or More Years: $74,894 Capturing user requirements and complex application capabilities into workable frameworks, IT analysts help translate between business needs and technology architecture. Companies that hire IT analysts include Accenture and Citigroup Global Markets.
Network Administrator
1-3 Years: $46,755 4-6 Years: $55,516 7-9 Years: $57,500 10 or More Years: $60,667 Global business cannot get done without network infrastructure management. Perhaps a company outsources this to a major telecommunications company, or perhaps it does it on its own. At the heart of it are routing, switching and network traffic management, with Cisco at the top of the technology heap. Companies that hire network administrators include NetBasis and IBM.
Network Engineer
1-3 Years: $60,064 4-6 Years: $69,123 7-9 Years: $75,402 10 or More Years: $79,903 To manage networking infrastructure a company needs network design and architecture. This is where network engineering plays its role. Companies that hire network engineers include Verizon and Raytheon.
Product Manager
1-3 Years: $89,719 4-6 Years: $95,990 7-9 Years: $103,273 10 or More Years: $108,607 Working closely between product marketing, the line of business department and IT, product managers are the soup to nuts of developing, releasing and supporting products whether they be in technology or not. Product managers focus on customer requirements and work closely with software development teams, IT architects, and marketing and sales teams to help products succeed in a business. Companies that hire product managers include Nokia Siemens Network and Intuit.
Project Manager
1-3 Years: $70,218 4-6 Years: $78,459 7-9 Years: $85,832 10 or More Years: $95,990 Time, cost and effort—these are the key management principles of project management, and in technology circles where IT project failure rates are high, project management is an important skill set in helping companies keep costs in line and projects on schedule. Companies that hire project managers include Oracle and Adobe.
Software Engineer
1-3 Years: $70,756 4-6 Years: $78,021 7-9 Years: $86,296 10 or More Years: $91,964 Software design, software development, software testing and quality assurance all fall under the arena of software engineering. Programming and coding could be a part of this, but more likely a software engineer spends effort on the design and functionality of the end product. Companies that hire software engineers include Symantec and Apple.
Systems Administrator
1-3 Years: $54,022 4-6 Years: $62,277 7-9 Years: $67,443 10 or More Years: $72,096 Whether it is Unix, Linux or Windows, system administration is a core information technology practice that combines infrastructure, applications and operating system management with distinct problem-solving ability. Systems require human management, and systems administrators are key personnel in any IT department, who manage technology resources and direct activity. Companies that hire systems administrators include CA and Affiliated Computer Services.
Systems Analyst
1-3 Years: $56,937 4-6 Years: $65,344 7-9 Years: $72,936 10 or More Years: $75,134 Systems analysts look at IT architecture and seek to optimize computing environments based on cost and efficiency needs – and based on technologies already in use. Many systems analysts consult to companies that don't have the in-house expertise to design systems. Companies that hire systems analysts include Abacus Technologies and Satyam.
Systems Engineer
1-3 Years: $68,444 4-6 Years: $75,429 7-9 Years: $85,031 10 or More Years: $92,482 Systems engineers have many of the same qualities of systems administrators and systems analysts, but the approach may be more scientific and will most likely include aspects of technical process and management process. First there is systems design, then there is systems management: Systems engineers design it all. Companies that hire systems engineers include iRobot and General Dynamics.
Technical Support Engineer
1-3 Years: $61,382 4-6 Years: $65,303 7-9 Years: $72,955 10 or More Years: $82,425 Most IT departments have support contracts with their vendors, and in the case of some complex pieces of equipment, IT may have to call into their vendors or other service providers for technical support in setting up systems, fixing a lingering technical problem or replacing technical equipment. Companies that hire technical support engineers include 3PAR and EMC.
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How does your current salary compare with national averages for technology occupations? It's no secret that where you live in the country may have a big impact on what you make, but so can benefits and the cost of living in a given region. Salaries tend to be higher in the Northeast and West Coast cities, while cost of living tends to be lower in the South and Midwest. The following gallery is a clean look at 13 of the most common technology job titles and the national averages of those job titles based on years of experience from one year to 10 years and beyond. Job titles include Data Analyst, Database Administrator, Hardware Engineer, IT Analyst, Network Administrator, Network Engineer, Product Manager, Project Manager, Software Engineer, Systems Administrator, Systems Analyst, Systems Engineer and Technical Support Engineer. The data was provided by Glassdoor.com based on a wealth of information shared anonymously by employees of major U.S. companies through Sept. 16. Glassdoor is unique in that its information on salary, benefits and views of company executives come directly from employee resources without the filter of gatekeepers.