Tech Pay Approaches All-Time HighTech Pay Approaches All-Time High

Techies were paid nearly record-high hourly wages in the third quarter, according to a new report released Thursday by staffing firm Yoh.

Based on data compiled from 75 Yoh field offices and 5,000 technology professionals contracted in short- and long-term projects, pay increased an average of more than 5.5% for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to the same period last year.

Compared to the same months in 2006, hourly wages for techies in 2007 rose 6% in July, 4.64% in August, and 5.79% in September.

Also, the Yoh Index of Technology Wages hit a high score of 113.60 during the quarter, which was a 5.79% increase over the highest score reached in the third quarter of 2006.

The index compares quarterly wage data to a base score of 100, which represents wage levels in January 2001 when Yoh launched its index.

The index score of 113.60 reached in September is the second-highest rating since Yoh started tracking its index. The all-time highest index score -- which means the highest hourly-wage level -- was reached this year, when the index hit 113.86 in February. That translated to an average hourly tech worker wage of $31.80.

Among the hottest skills being demanded right now by Yoh clients are Java and .Net developers, database administrators, SAP functional and technical consultants, and project managers, said Jim Lanzalotto, Yoh's VP of strategy and marketing. Last quarter, SAP consultants on average earned $88.07 per hour, while Java developers earned $50.89, per hour, according to Yoh's research.

Despite the problems occurring in the financial sectors in recent weeks that have caused anxiety about the economy, "demand for technology people is still going strong," Lanzalotto says. Among the work being contracted are projects involving IT infrastructure.