Are you a tech professional seeking a job in Dallas? If so, you might be lucky.
Chief information officers (CIOs) in 24 major American cities were questioned regarding their IT hiring plans for the first half of the year. The survey revealed that Dallas was among the five cities expected to increase the most IT careers in Q1 and Q2.
The survey further revealed that the first half of this year would remain very competitive as IT departments increase their teams to tackle three tech employment drivers: mobile, security, and big data.
If you’re considering IT employment in this city, this guide will prove invaluable.
IT Employment in Dallas
Despite hosting companies such as AT&T, most people wouldn’t associate Dallas as a flourishing tech hub until recently. Experts reveal that the demand for proficient IT talent is strong in this city.
Reports further reveal that unemployment levels for these experts continues to decline, creating a tight market for IT candidates. According to a survey by Dice, 72% of companies plan to expand by over 10% early this year.
The survey urges tech professionals who are seeking employment or those thinking of leaving their present position to capitalize on the opportunity. Tech professionals are not only in high demand but also possess a strong negotiating power.
A survey released by Robert Half Technology revealed that numerous CIOs plan to increase their hiring for the first half of this year. However, 67% of surveyed CIOs also stated that they anticipate a rather challenging quest in locating experienced IT talent.
Hiring IT Trends in Dallas
In the U.S., Texas has gained recognition for creating the most tech jobs according to a Dice report. The state added 8,100 jobs last year to hire 143,300 tech professionals-this is a 6% increase.
According to a survey conducted last year, 27% of Dallas-area CIOs have plans to increase their IT teams in the first half of this year.
Concerning recruitment, Dallas CIOs revealed the challenge in finding skilled talent in the areas of software development, applications development, and technical/help desk support. Tech experts with the following skill sets are on high demand according to the survey:
- Network administration (69%)
- Telecommunications (61%)
- Wireless network management (67%)
Salary Trends for IT Professionals
Reports indicate that tech employees in Texas should expect higher wages this year. Starting wages for IT jobs are expected to increase by 5.7% according a salary guide released by Robert Half Technology.
These tech positions will face the largest gains in starting wages this year given that IT jobs are becoming more complicated, requiring experts to understand numerous platforms, software, or languages. They include:
- Mobile application developer
Skilled mobile app developers with the knowledge of numerous platforms including Android and Symbian are in high demand. As a result, they will see a considerable jump in starting salary-a 10.2% increase.
- Network Architect
As networks grow in complexity, the starting pay and demand for these professionals continue to rise. Experts predict a 5.5% increase from last year. The tech professionals can further increase their wages with certifications from Microsoft or Novell.
- Data security analyst
Recently, numerous high-profile security violations have occurred. Therefore, it’s not surprising that these professionals are in demand. They can anticipate a 7.4% salary hike.
If you want to know more about the IT job market in Dallas, contact us at Apartment Agents for more information.
Image: Tech Jobs
