Tech Salaries: From High to Low

Also see: IT Salary Survey, January 2009 (gives comparative numbers between '08 and '09.)

A look at recent salary numbers for tech professionals reveals a remarkable range. A mid-level software engineer, for example, can make anywhere from the mid $60k level to somewhere above $90k. (See chart below.)

Similarly, plenty of networking pros get paid in the mid $50k range, but some earn over $80k (chart). A small percentage of database experts earn well into six figures, though an equal percentage pull in about $70k (chart). A veteran sysadmin brings home close to $100k, yet a less experienced staffer earns about $60k (chart ).

By looking at pay charts from Salary.com, tech professionals can see how their salaries compare with a bell curve of national averages. Take a look at the charts in this article to see how you stack up.

There is one tech job that seems to be on the upswing more than any other, at least based on Salary.com data.

“What I’ve seen over the last year or two is a scarcity of security engineers,” says Roger Sturtevant, VP of Salary’s survey division. (Salary gets its pay data from employers, rather than from self-reporting by staffers.) “And it comes in two flavors: one is people who are creating security-related products from an engineering standpoint; the other side is internal IT people working on a company’s own internal infrastructure.”

In short, security is hot, Sturtevant tells Datamation.

Tech Job Salary Ranges

Here's the list of salary ranges for other tech sectors:

Software engineers (scroll down to see charts)

Security

Database

Help Desk

Systems Administrators

Networking

Tech Sales rep

Tech Managers

Entry Level Software Engineer

Job Description: Designs, modifies, develops, writes and implements software programming applications. Supports and/or installs software applications/operating systems. Participates in the testing process through test review and analysis, test witnessing and certification of software. Requires a bachelor's degree in a related area and 0-2 years of experience in the field or in a related area.

Mid-level Software Engineer

Job Description: Similar to above, but this position requires a bachelor's degree in a related area and 4-6 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Familiar with a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of complicated tasks. May lead and direct the work of others. May report directly to a project lead or manager. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.

Senior Software Engineer

Job Description: Similar to above, but requires a bachelor's degree in area of specialty and at least 8-10 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Demonstrates expertise in a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. May provide consultation on complex projects and is considered to be the top level contributor/specialist. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. May report to an executive or a manager.

All data and job descriptions courtesy of Salary.com. Data from September 2007.