Computer staff enjoy average pay rise of 7%

A MAJOR new survey of Irish private sector companies has shown that salaries rose by an average of 5.2 per cent last year, with computer development staff enjoying average increases of 7.2 per cent.

The survey, by recruitment agency Marlborough Group, shows that the success of the IDA in attracting electronics manufacturers and telephone call centres to Ireland is reflected in the demand for and the salaries paid to software developers and buyers/ planners.

The Marlborough survey shows the top quoted salary for a general manager in industry at just over £55,000. While the top quoted salary for a marketing director is just over £36,500, Marlborough states that a marketing director achieving his or her sales targets could expect to double that salary.

In the computer sector, the top salary is for a data processing/ management information systems manager at £42,000 while a commodities trader could expect to add 80 per cent more to a salary of £24,000 through commissions.

The Marlborough survey is based on a 30 per cent response to 1,600 questionnaires sent to a wide range of businesses in Ireland.

On fringe benefits, the survey indicates that 83 per cent of companies provide either a contributory or non contributory pension scheme, while 84 per cent have either a contributory or non contributory VHI scheme. Close to 45 per cent of employers pay all or part of the employee's VHI subscription, while the most common arrangement is for staff to make a 50 per cent contribution towards VHI Plan B cover.

Average annual leave is 22 days and fewer than 20 per cent of those surveyed received fewer than four weeks leave. A total of 27 per cent received "service days" for long service, with the popular formula being one extra day's leave for every five years of service, up to a maximum of five extra days.

Where company cars are concerned, the vast majority 92 per cent of companies provide ears where transport is necessary for a particular role. "Status ears" are usually provided with positions above middle management, with an average minimum qualifying salary of £36,000. Cars are replaced on average once every three years.