As we enter the new year, two of the most common questions network professionals ask are: "How much should I be getting paid?" and "What skills will make me indispensable to employers?"

Now is a good time to ask these questions, as the IT sector continues to grow and businesses are increasing their investment in data systems. With a favorable job market behind them, those who specialize in networking have more leverage than in the recent past and may be pleasantly surprised by the answers to these standard queries.

Salaries slightly up

According to the recently released "Robert Half Technology 2007 Salary Guide," starting salaries for technology positions should see a slight increase in 2007. A number of networking-specific job titles will see growth that outpaces the industry average. Network security administrators, for example, can expect starting salaries between $69,750 and $98,500, a 3.7% increase over 2006 levels. Network managers will see base compensation rise 3.5% in 2007, to between $68,750 and $93,000, while starting salaries for network architects are forecast to rise 3.1% to the range of $78,000 to $112,250.

Projected salary increases are always welcome news, but network professionals will not be in a position to take advantage of the positive employment market without the skills that employers demand.

Feedback from Robert Half Technology offices throughout North America indicates that standard network know-how remains a hot commodity, with companies looking to hire experts in LAN/WAN, WLAN management, VPN, TCP/IP, intrusion detection and firewall implementation. A fundamental understanding of network management also is required for positions in growing areas such as wireless communication, broadband and VoIP.

More specifically, employers seek professionals with experience in Cisco network administration, Linux/Unix administration, Windows administration and VoIP administration. Security expertise for Cisco, Linux/Unix and Check Point firewall administration is also highly sought. Professionals with these skills often command salaries 10% to 12% higher than those who lack comparable experience.

A skill set often overlooked by IT professionals, but of crucial importance to a growing number of hiring managers, is business acumen. Any IT professional who aspires to a managerial career needs to possess soft skills, which includes problem-solving, communication and customer service -- competencies not frequently taught in traditional IT curricula. Those strong in this area can truly distinguish themselves from the competition.