For the second year in a row, IT workers experienced little salary growth, earning an average increase of less than 1 percent in 2010, according to a survey by Dice Holdings. However, quite a few more tech professionals received a salary boost in 2010 than in 2009, and half of those surveyed said they were "somewhat" or "very satisfied" with their pay. 

IT managers shouldn't be complacent, though, because 40 percent of the IT workers surveyed said that if they change jobs they could earn a higher salary. The survey queried 19,798 tech professionals.

"Companies can no longer get away with paltry salary increases for their technology staffs based on the demand we are seeing for talent," said Tom Silver, senior vice president for North America at Dice. "The moderate increases in satisfaction levels indicate that tech professionals' concerns are being heard by some companies, but certainly not all."

Not surprisingly, Silicon Valley faces the highest demand for IT professionals--New York and Washington, D.C. follow. The greatest average salary growth in 2010, an increase of 5 percent, took place in Atlanta and Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Los Angeles and Chicago experienced a drop in average tech salaries.

For more:
- see the Dice 2011‐2010 Annual Salary Survey

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