MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting salaries in the accounting and finance, information technology (IT), and administrative fields are expected to remain relatively flat or see modest declines next year, but some positions will buck this trend, according to the 2010 Salary Guides from Robert Half International. Research for the guides provides insight into compensation and hiring trends within each field, and identifies 10 positions where national average salaries are holding strong or seeing slight gains.

"A focus on cost control will continue to shape the hiring landscape next year, and starting salaries clearly are being influenced by that trend," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. "At the same time, companies recognize the need to invest in staff members with specific expertise who can help them capitalize on emerging opportunities." Added Messmer, "In the current environment, some firms are taking advantage of the large pool of top talent now available by selectively adding full-time staff in key areas."

Following is an overview of compensation trends, segmented by field, along with 10 positions showing steady or increasing compensation, according to the Salary Guides:

2010 Salary Trends: Accounting and Finance

Starting salaries for accounting and finance positions are expected to increase by an average of 0.5 percent in 2010. Businesses seek financial professionals who can help manage costs and enhance profitability. Companies also value personnel who possess deep technical expertise, are excellent communicators and collaborate effectively with colleagues across multiple departments.

Positions with the best prospects include:

      1. Tax accountant: Companies seek tax accountants who can help their
         organizations achieve bottom-line savings through effective tax
         management strategies. Businesses also need their guidance to
         maintain compliance with tax regulations, such as FAS 109 and FIN 48.
         Tax accountants with one to three years of experience at large
         companies (more than $250 million in sales) are expected to see an
         average national starting salary in the range of $46,500 to $61,500.
      2. Compliance director: Firms need professionals who can help them
         comply with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission mandates and
         prepare for the potential transition to International Financial
         Reporting Standards. New regulations that are issued as a result of
         the financial crisis may generate further demand for professionals
         with the requisite compliance expertise. The starting salary range
         for a compliance director at a small company (up to $25 million in
         sales) is forecast to be $83,750 to $108,500.
      3. Credit manager/supervisor: Companies need professionals who can
         contribute to the bottom line by reducing inefficiencies and
         enhancing profitability. As a result, credit and collections
         specialists who can evaluate credit risk, manage delinquent payments
         and help improve cash flow are in demand. Base compensation for
         credit managers/supervisors working in small companies is projected
         to range between $42,500 to $57,500.
      4. Senior financial analyst: Businesses need professionals who are able
         to evaluate financial plans, forecasts and budgets, and identify ways
         to improve profitability. A senior financial analyst at a midsize
         company ($25 million to $250 million in sales) is anticipated to earn
         $57,750 to $74,000 in starting salary in 2010.

2010 Salary Trends: Information Technology

National starting salaries for IT roles are forecast to decrease by an average of 1.3 percent in 2010. Professionals who are most in demand are able to tie IT initiatives to larger business objectives, helping their firms become more efficient and reduce costs. In addition, managers seek candidates with strong communication skills for projects that involve collaborating with peers in other areas of the company.

Positions with the best prospects include:

      5. Network administrator: Cloud computing, Voice over Internet Protocol
         (VoIP) and Software as a Service (SaaS) have significantly increased
         the complexity of and requirements placed on networks. Further, chief
         information officers interviewed for the fourth-quarter Robert Half
         Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report cited network
         administration as the most in-demand skill set. Network
         administrators can expect to see starting salaries in the range of
         $54,500 to $80,250 in the coming year.
      6. Information systems security manager: Protecting the confidentiality,
         integrity and availability of information from internal and external
         breaches is a must-have for companies of all sizes, making security
         professionals integral to the IT department. The salary range for an
         information systems security manager is expected to be $96,500 to
         $130,750.
      7. Systems engineer: As companies implement new technologies, technical
         services roles remain critical to the organization. Systems engineers
         are in demand to help companies develop and maintain technical
         infrastructure, hardware and system software components in support of
         a variety of IT projects. Base compensation for these professionals
         is projected to range from $64,250 to $93,250.

2010 Salary Trends: Administrative and Office Support

Starting salaries for administrative professionals are projected to decrease by an average of 2.2 percent in 2010. However, demand is steady for administrative candidates with broad expertise and the ability to multitask, especially within teams that have been stretched thin and have redistributed work among fewer employees. In addition, firms want support staff who are confident as they approach unexpected situations, quick to learn new skills and able to help others adapt to change.

Positions with the best prospects include:

      8. Medical records clerk: As more hospitals and healthcare organizations
         transition from paper to electronic medical records, facilities will
         seek medical records clerks who can help supervise the scanning and
         processing of patient data. These individuals can expect to earn a
         starting salary of $23,750 to $31,500 in 2010.
      9. Customer service representative: In the current economy, hiring
         managers consider customer service the function most critical to
         their organizations' success, according to the 2009 Employment
         Dynamics and Growth Expectations (EDGE) Report from Robert Half and
         CareerBuilder. The salary range for a customer service representative
         is projected to be $22,750 to $30,750.
     10. Executive assistant: Companies with leaner teams are looking for
         employees to take on a wider range of duties. Executive assistants
         who can wear many hats, support multiple managers and adapt readily
         to change are in particular demand. These individuals are likely to
         see starting salaries in the range of $35,000 to $47,000.

Messmer noted that many firms continue to report challenges finding highly skilled candidates, despite current unemployment figures. "Recruiting difficulties are the result of a number of factors, including continued competition for the best workers, the unwillingness of professionals to leave secure positions and employers themselves being more selective to avoid costly hiring mistakes. To keep up with business demands and reduce the need for additional layoffs, many firms have increased their reliance on interim professionals and temporary-to-full-time arrangements."

About the Robert Half 2010 Salary Guides

The new Robert Half Salary Guides include the 2010 Salary Guide for accounting and finance, produced by Accountemps®, Robert Half® Finance & Accounting and Robert Half(®) Management Resources; the Robert Half Technology 2010 Salary Guide for technology professionals; and the OfficeTeam 2010 Salary Guide for administrative positions.

The guides are produced annually by Robert Half to offer hiring managers information on prevailing salaries in their geographic areas and insight into the latest employment trends. This year for the first time, the 2010 Salary Guides will be accompanied by online Salary Centers featuring up-to-the-minute information and analysis on the employment environment and Robert Half's new Salary Calculators. The Salary Calculators allow users to quickly access the starting salary range for their specified position and location and can be accessed at www.roberthalf.com/SalaryCenter, www.rht.com/SalaryCenter and www.officeteam.com/SalaryCenter for the accounting and finance, information technology, and administrative fields, respectively.

Since 1950, companies have consulted the annual guides from Robert Half to determine appropriate compensation for their employees. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics references the guide when preparing its comprehensive Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Robert Half International has more than 360 staffing locations worldwide and offers online job search services on its divisional websites, all of which can be accessed at www.rhi.com.

SOURCE Robert Half International Inc.

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