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MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the newly released 2013 Salary Guides from Robert Half International, U.S. starting salaries for technology positions in the coming year will show the largest increases among all fields researched -- an average of 5.3 percent. Administrative and office support professionals are expected to see base compensation rise by 3.5 percent, on average, and accounting and finance professionals can anticipate a boost of 3.3 percent.

"A supply and demand imbalance exists for specialized talent within many professional occupations, including information technology and accounting," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. "To attract the best employees, companies must stay up-to-date on compensation levels, including trends affecting their regions and industries. Our Salary Guides provide data that can help businesses plan for the coming year." 

Robert Half has been publishing salary data since 1950. Following is an overview of hiring trends identified in the 2013 Salary Guides:

Accounting and Finance  
Starting salaries are expected to rise an average of 3.3 percent for accounting and finance positions in the coming year, with a particular need for financial analysts and business analysts who can support growth opportunities, as well as staff and senior accountants. In the healthcare industry, medical billers are sought, and in financial services, an improved lending environment should lead to above-average salary increases for mortgage underwriters and processors.

Technology  
Base compensation for information technology professionals is expected to increase an average of 5.3 percent in the coming year. Mobile applications developers will see the highest increases (average of 9.0 percent), as companies look for people to help them build business using mobile media. Network engineers (especially wireless), data modelers and portal administrators also are in demand.

Administrative and Office Support
Salaries for administrative professionals are anticipated to rise an average of 3.5 percent in 2013. Employers are refilling some roles and creating new ones to ready themselves for future growth. Positions in demand include executive and administrative assistants and customer service and call center managers. Above-average salary increases also are projected for select administrative positions in the healthcare industry and in human resources.

About the 2013 Salary Guides
The newly released Salary Guides include:

• 2013 Salary Guide from Robert Half for accounting and finance (www.roberthalf.com/salarycenter)
• Robert Half Technology 2013 Salary Guide (www.rht.com/salarycenter)
• OfficeTeam 2013 Salary Guide (www.officeteam.com/salarycenter)

Salary calculators that can be used to determine average starting salaries in hundreds of local markets can be accessed via these links. The guides released today also are available at www.rhi.com/SalaryGuides.

Since 1950, Robert Half has produced Salary Guides to offer business owners, hiring managers and professionals information on prevailing starting salaries in their geographic areas and insight into the latest employment trends. Companies consult the annual guides to determine appropriate compensation for accounting and finance, technology and administrative professionals at all levels. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics has used the guide when preparing its comprehensive Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Information in the guides is based on the thousands of job searches, negotiations and placements managed each year by Robert Half's staffing and recruiting managers, along with the company's ongoing surveys of executives. Continuing or ongoing salaries are not reported because many external factors -- such as seniority, work ethic, job performance and training -- impact the salaries of full-time professionals as work histories develop. 

About Robert Half International
Robert Half International has more than 350 staffing locations worldwide and offers online job search services on its divisional websites, all of which can be accessed at www.roberthalf.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/RobertHalf.

SOURCE Robert Half International