Tech Salaries Increasing, Despite Economy

Electronics News (2/16, Deffree) – Yes, you're reading that headline correctly. Tech salaries are growing, even as the economic pressures force industry-wide layoffs, according to Dice.com, a leading career site for technology and engineering professionals. More good news: While the national unemployment rate climbed to 7.6% in January, the unemployment rate for the tech sector was less than half that. According to a survey of more than 19,000 technology workers between August and November 2008, Dice tracked a 4.6% increase in average pay from the previous year -- and a rate at more than twice that for electrical engineers. "It’s going to be tough sledding for tech in the near term, but we highly doubt it will be as challenging as it was in the dot-com/Y2K bubble," Dice.com's Tom Silver said.