Training and Certifications Impact Salaries for IT and Business Pros, According to IT Salary Survey by Global Knowledge and TechRepublic

Riyadh (KSA) – April 24, 2012Global Knowledge, worldwide leader in IT and business training, and TechRepublic, a leading online community for IT professionals, today announced the availability of the 2012 IT Skills and Salary Report. The report is based on input from more than 9,500 IT and business professionals who responded to the companies’ fifth annual IT skills and salary survey.

Among the key findings in this year’s IT salary survey:

Training and Certifications Impact Salary
IT and business professionals who took training during the past year earned an average of $6,839 (8.6%) more than those who did not. In particular, professionals who had earned a certification during the past five years earned an average of $6,558 (8.2%) more than their counterparts.

Salaries Increased in 2011
The average salary for respondents was $84,552, up 6.2% from last year’s survey and the highest average salary reported in the history of the survey. Further, nearly two-thirds of respondents (63%) reported receiving a raise, up from 54% of the previous year’s respondents, but still off from the 80% mark set in 2008.

Job Satisfaction Improved in 2011
Overall, 60% of respondents reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their position, compared to 43% and 40% in the previous two years. Those reporting being very satisfied with their current position increased to 15%, up from only 5% and 8% in the previous two years.

Most Believe Economic Conditions Will Improve for 2012
Over half (58%) of respondents indicated that their businesses are either growing slowly or experiencing a period of solid growth. That is in line with last year (58% vs. 56%) and 14 points higher than two years ago. Further, 80% of this year’s respondents indicated projects are getting
funding, up from 77% and 62% in the previous two years.

The Global Knowledge/TechRepublic 2012 IT Skills and Salary Survey was conducted online from October 10 to November 18, 2011. It yielded more than 9,500 respondents worldwide, with 76 percent coming from North America.

About Global Knowledge
Global Knowledge is the worldwide leader in IT and business skills training, with more than 1,200 courses that span foundational and specialized training and certifications. Our core training is focused on Cisco, Microsoft, Avaya, VMware, Red Hat, business process improvement, and leadership development. We deliver via training centers, private facilities, and the Internet, enabling our customers to choose when, where, and how they want to receive training programs and learning services. Founded in 1995, Global Knowledge employs more than 1,300 people worldwide and is headquartered in Cary, NC. The company is owned by New York-based investment firm MidOcean Partners. Learn more at www.globalknowledge.com.sa.

About TechRepublic
TechRepublic provides IT leaders and IT workers with resources to help meet the day-to-day demands for best practices and decision support. TechRepublic’s members, representing all segments of the IT industry, turn to the site for information, advice, and tools to help them perform at the highest level. Both an online trade publication and a massive online community, TechRepublic provides IT professionals with the ultimate peer-to-peer experience for information gathering and problem solving. Part of CBS Interactive, TechRepublic was founded in 1999 in Louisville, KY, where its editorial team still has its headquarters. For more information, visit http://www.techrepublic.com/.