Salary picture brightens for nations workers

A pair of annual salary surveys paint a bright picture for starting administrative professionals and those who pursue careers in even more skilled fields.

OfficeTeam, a Robert Half International company, projects that starting salaries will rise an average of 3.2 percent, according to its just-released 2008 salary guide. Robert Half's 2008 forecast for accounting/finance professionals plus information technology workers puts the average raise at 4.3 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively.

The firms cited a competitive hiring environment leading to increased demand for professionals with advanced skills and experience, a trend noticeable in the Fox Valley.

The 3.2 percent average raise rings true in the region as well.

"If you're talking middle management, I'd say it'll be at least that much," said Sharon Hulce, president of Employment Resource Group, an Appleton executive search firm, dealing with upper-level employees.

According to Robert Half, the salaries will go up an average of 5.3 percent in 2008, with the larger increases expected in base compensation for specialties such as applications and Web development, network management and database administration.

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