Predictions for Project Managers in 2006

Bob Weinstein over at gantthead.com (registration required) has summarized some career related findings from a few research firms. I wasn't able to find the original data so I have to accept Weinstein's interpretation. Here are some highlights of what he wrote.

"In 2006, experienced IT workers can expect to see more jobs and salary increases that are at least 5 percent better than they were in 2005, according to a recent survey by technical job site Dice.com."

Surveys by recruiting firm, Robert Half Technology (RHT) and Janco, a Utah-based international consulting company, ditto Dice's findings.

RHT's top five jobs with the greatest increases in both salary and demand (compared to 2005) are:

• IT auditor: $67,000 - $94,250 (11 percent)
• Lead application developer: $72,000 - $98,250 (5.3 percent)
• Network security administrator: $67,500 - $94,750 (5.2 percent)
• Business systems analyst: $58,750 - $84,750 (5.1 percent)
• Data analyst/report writer: $54,000 - $71,250 (5 percent)

Next year will be a buyer's market for PMs, say recruiters. According to Victor Janulaitis, Janco's chief executive, the ideal PM is defined as a "rare breed technologist with a firm grasp of business processes who can deliver on projects."

According to the Dice survey, one of the most in-demand IT professionals for 2006 will be the multi-skilled PM. Dice reports that the number of jobs for PMs catapulted 370 percent over the past two years, compared with an increase of 162 percent for the total number of positions for the same time period. The dramatic increase in demand is largely due to a backlog of projects after the slump of 2002-2003, when companies slashed and eliminated IT departments.

What can a top PM earn a year? Janco says $125,000 - $130,000.

Best places work for IT professionals. New York City and Washington, D.C., are projected to remain the hotspots in 2006. And Boston, Philadelphia and Los Angeles are right behind them.