I received an invite to the annual InformationWeek National IT Salary Survey earlier this week. It's where you get to reveal all the information you wouldn't tell anyone at the office (or maybe even your spouse). Like your age, gender, salary, bonus, job happiness, stock options, location...mother's maiden name, phone number, social security number, bank accounts, credit card numbers........wait...

Seriously, I enjoy doing these surveys. I think they are helpful to the general community so individuals can accurately assess their value in the market. In a culture where salary ranges and levels are very controlled by HR organizations and management, it's nice to have a public report to turn to. I used several surveys a few years ago to justify a salary level when I changed jobs. It came in very handy.

Coincidently, the other day, I received an e-mail from a recruiter who happened upon my resume. The position is a Senior Network Integrations Engineer in sales for a government communications company in the Washington DC area. It requires an active CCIE with strong Cisco voice skills (CCVP preferred). I'm very happy in my job, so I'm not looking to change. Plus, the positions is in DC and I am not moving there (my apologies to all readers in or around the nation's capital).

But, curiosity got the better of me and I replied asking what the salary range is. I expected a CCIE with strong Cisco voice skills in the DC area could command a hefty premium. I was shocked when she said they were looking at $130,000 - $155,000. That's very good in many parts of the country, but I expected more in high-cost areas like DC. We've had candidates in the bay area refuse to even come in for an interview for less than $175,000. Some are getting well over $200,000. I don't see DC much different from Silicon Valley (well, from a salary requirements perspective, at least). I advised the recruiter I thought she'd have problems competing with Cisco partners and carriers who are required to have CCIEs by only offering $130-155K. Plus, is that really going to draw people to DC?

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe with the economy cooling there will be opportunities to fill these positions. $150K is a very, very good salary. But, something tells me I'm right.

PS - If you're in DC or want to move there, a CCIE with Voice experience, and interested, e-mail me. ;-)