IT staff may be tempted to move for only small salary increases, it has been suggested following a survey by IT recruiter The JM Group showing that pay in the sector has remained at the same level or shrunk over the past 12 months.

Pre-recession – between 2008 and 2010 – senior IT roles (VPs and directors) saw a salary increase of 14%, with more junior roles (analysts and associates) seeing a 5% pay hike.

Over the past year, senior level salaries have remained static, while for other positions they have gone down 4%.

Martin Rennison, head of investment banking IT roles at the company, says: “We also believe the slight dip in salaries for less senior IT roles does not necessarily mean that people are moving for pay cuts. Instead we’re finding that when an organisation is unable to develop or promote their staff internally, candidates will now move for less significant salary increases if they can see how it will benefit their long-term career.”