The highest paying jobs of 2016

IT professionals are set to be all the rage in the coming year, according to The 2016 Salary Guides from Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group.

The research was conducted through survey with chief information officers (CIOs) and other IT professionals in North America.

The report highlighted systems engineers with virtualisation skills and systems administrators are needed by many firms to manage the convergence of networking, systems and data storage.

Wireless network engineers can, in fact, expect a starting salary of US$108,750 - $150,750, a 9.7% year on year increase.

With more companies using big data analytics to help inform business decisions and relying on specialised personnel for managing and interpreting raw data, they are driving demand for database administrators and business intelligence analysts.

Big Data engineers are projected to have pay raise of 8.9% with starting salaries between US$ 129,500 to 183,500.

“Companies continue to struggle to find professionals who can help create seamless digital experience, from collecting and analyzing customer data to building secure e-commerce environments to providing intuitive, easy-to-navigate websites," said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group.

Employers across industries are also looking to hire developers for web, software and mobile app.

Those with .NET, PHP and MySQL skills, as well as those with responsive design skills, are in high demand according to the salary guide.

As companies launch new IT initiatives, they need business analysts who can bridge the gap between technology efforts and business users. Quality Assurance (QA) professionals help keep projects on the mark through testing and assurance efforts.

Many employers are looking to expand their support teams as they embrace mobility and “bring your own device” initiatives. Technical assistance is also needed specifically for managing issues related to the Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM).

With employees across industries seeking for talent in these areas, Robert Half pointed out that employers need to be willing to pay at or above market salaries for top talent while provide exciting and challenging assignments.

Other perks to attract technology talent are providing them with the latest high-tech tools, offering flexible working arrangement and clear a career path.

Establishing a strong employee referral program is also a key to recruiting the best talent. Referrals can be the key to connecting with in-demand talent before the competition even knows these professionals are in the market.

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