Big drop in tech pay in Queensland

Appeared in: The Australian
By: Jennifer Foreshew
Date: November 17, 2009

SALARIES of technology professionals in Queensland have been slashed since September last year, in some instances by more than 30 per cent, data shows.

Research from Australia’s largest IT recruiter, Peoplebank, shows Brisbane-based senior technology directors went from an average salary of $305,000 in September last year to $200,000 in October this year, a fall of about one third.

The same role in Sydney pays $350,000, according to Peoplebank’s Quarterly IT&T Salary Index, released today.

In Melbourne, a senior technology director is paid $300,000, while Adelaide is offering $250,000-plus.

The ACT was the only other region measured in which the salary for the role fell — from $230,000 in September last year to $205,000 now, a 12.5 per cent cut. The pay slump in Brisbane puts senior technology directors on par with their Perth counterparts. The data reveals IT salaries for a range of senior roles were hardest hit in Brisbane from September last year to October this year — than any other state measured.

Senior IT managers in Brisbane also copped a $16,000 drop in salary from $156,000 in September last year to $140,000 in October this year. Other Brisbane-based IT roles to feel the effects of the global financial downturn were senior business analysts, now offered $95,000 and down from $105,000 in September last year.

A senior J2EE architect is now offered $110,000, compared with $120,000 last year.

Senior sales and marketing managers in Brisbane have also lost out, as their salaries dived by $10,000 from $140,000 in September last year.

On a positive note, the salary for senior web masters rose $10,000 to $80,000 in October this year.

The Peoplebank Quarterly IT&T Salary Index measures salaries offered to permanent and contract technology workers in more than 50 categories.

The latest data, for salaries from July to October this year, shows salaries have remained mostly unchanged.

It finds there was a consistent rise in demand for technology contractors and permanent staff in key markets notably Sydney, Perth and Melbourne.

“I would think by June next year we would be starting to see some movement in salaries and it is possible we could see that as early as March,” Peoplebank chief operating officer Peter Acheson said. Rises of 3-4 per cent were most likely.