10 PROMISING JOBS FOR 2010: Robert Half 2010 Salary Guides Reveal Compensation Not Likely to Increase For Most Positions, But Some Areas Offer Encouragement

10 PROMISING JOBS FOR 2010: Robert Half 2010 Salary Guides Reveal Compensation
Not Likely to Increase For Most Positions, But Some Areas Offer Encouragement

MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting salaries in the
accounting and finance, information technology (IT), and administrative fields
are expected to remain relatively flat or see modest declines next year, but
some positions will buck this trend, according to the 2010 Salary Guides from
Robert Half International. Research for the guides provides insight into
compensation and hiring trends within each field, and identifies 10 positions
where national average salaries are holding strong or seeing slight gains.

"A focus on cost control will continue to shape the hiring landscape next
year, and starting salaries clearly are being influenced by that trend," said
Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. "At the same time,
companies recognize the need to invest in staff members with specific
expertise who can help them capitalize on emerging opportunities." Added
Messmer, "In the current environment, some firms are taking advantage of the
large pool of top talent now available by selectively adding full-time staff
in key areas."

Following is an overview of compensation trends, segmented by field, along
with 10 positions showing steady or increasing compensation, according to the
Salary Guides:

2010 Salary Trends: Accounting and Finance
Starting salaries for accounting and finance positions are expected to
increase by an average of 0.5 percent in 2010. Businesses seek financial
professionals who can help manage costs and enhance profitability. Companies
also value personnel who possess deep technical expertise, are excellent
communicators and collaborate effectively with colleagues across multiple
departments.

Positions with the best prospects include:
1. Tax accountant: Companies seek tax accountants who can help their
organizations achieve bottom-line savings through effective tax
management strategies. Businesses also need their guidance to
maintain compliance with tax regulations, such as FAS 109 and FIN 48.
Tax accountants with one to three years of experience at large
companies (more than $250 million in sales) are expected to see an
average national starting salary in the range of $46,500 to $61,500.
2. Compliance director: Firms need professionals who can help them
comply with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission mandates and
prepare for the potential transition to International Financial
Reporting Standards. New regulations that are issued as a result of
the financial crisis may generate further demand for professionals
with the requisite compliance expertise. The starting salary range
for a compliance director at a small company (up to $25 million in
sales) is forecast to be $83,750 to $108,500.
3. Credit manager/supervisor: Companies need professionals who can
contribute to the bottom line by reducing inefficiencies and
enhancing profitability. As a result, credit and collections
specialists who can evaluate credit risk, manage delinquent payments
and help improve cash flow are in demand. Base compensation for
credit managers/supervisors working in small companies is projected
to range between $42,500 to $57,500.
4. Senior financial analyst: Businesses need professionals who are able
to evaluate financial plans, forecasts and budgets, and identify ways
to improve profitability. A senior financial analyst at a midsize
company ($25 million to $250 million in sales) is anticipated to earn
$57,750 to $74,000 in starting salary in 2010.

2010 Salary Trends: Information Technology
National starting salaries for IT roles are forecast to decrease by an average
of 1.3 percent in 2010. Professionals who are most in demand are able to tie
IT initiatives to larger business objectives, helping their firms become more
efficient and reduce costs. In addition, managers seek candidates with strong
communication skills for projects that involve collaborating with peers in
other areas of the company.

Positions with the best prospects include:

5. Network administrator: Cloud computing, Voice over Internet Protocol
(VoIP) and Software as a Service (SaaS) have significantly increased
the complexity of and requirements placed on networks. Further, chief
information officers interviewed for the fourth-quarter Robert Half
Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report cited network
administration as the most in-demand skill set. Network
administrators can expect to see starting salaries in the range of
$54,500 to $80,250 in the coming year.
6. Information systems security manager: Protecting the confidentiality,
integrity and availability of information from internal and external
breaches is a must-have for companies of all sizes, making security
professionals integral to the IT department. The salary range for an
information systems security manager is expected to be $96,500 to
$130,750.
7. Systems engineer: As companies implement new technologies, technical
services roles remain critical to the organization. Systems engineers
are in demand to help companies develop and maintain technical
infrastructure, hardware and system software components in support of
a variety of IT projects. Base compensation for these professionals
is projected to range from $64,250 to $93,250.

2010 Salary Trends: Administrative and Office Support
Starting salaries for administrative professionals are projected to decrease
by an average of2.2 percent in 2010. However, demand is steady for
administrative candidates with broad expertise and the ability to multitask,
especially within teams that have been stretched thin and have redistributed
work among fewer employees. In addition, firms want support staff who are
confident as they approach unexpected situations, quick to learn new skills
and able to help others adapt to change.

Positions with the best prospects include:

8. Medical records clerk: As more hospitals and healthcare organizations
transition from paper to electronic medical records, facilities will
seek medical records clerks who can help supervise the scanning and
processing of patient data. These individuals can expect to earn a
starting salary of $23,750 to $31,500 in 2010.
9. Customer service representative: In the current economy, hiring
managers consider customer service the function most critical to
their organizations' success, according to the 2009 Employment
Dynamics and Growth Expectations (EDGE) Report from Robert Half and
CareerBuilder. The salary range for a customer service representative
is projected to be $22,750 to $30,750.
10. Executive assistant: Companies with leaner teams are looking for
employees to take on a wider range of duties. Executive assistants
who can wear many hats, support multiple managers and adapt readily
to change are in particular demand. These individuals are likely to
see starting salaries in the range of $35,000 to $47,000.

Messmer noted that many firms continue to report challenges finding highly
skilled candidates, despite current unemployment figures. "Recruiting
difficulties are the result of a number of factors, including continued
competition for the best workers, the unwillingness of professionals to leave
secure positions and employers themselves being more selective to avoid costly
hiring mistakes. To keep up with business demands and reduce the need for
additional layoffs, many firms have increased their reliance on interim
professionals and temporary-to-full-time arrangements."

About the Robert Half 2010 Salary Guides
The new Robert Half Salary Guides include the 2010 Salary Guide for accounting
and finance, produced by Accountemps®, Robert Half® Finance & Accounting and
Robert Half(®) Management Resources; the Robert Half Technology 2010 Salary
Guide for technology professionals; and the OfficeTeam 2010 Salary Guide for
administrative positions.

The guides are produced annually by Robert Half to offer hiring managers
information on prevailing salaries in their geographic areas and insight into
the latest employment trends. This year for the first time, the 2010Salary
Guides will be accompanied by online Salary Centers featuring up-to-the-minute
information and analysis on the employment environment and Robert Half's new
Salary Calculators. The Salary Calculators allow users to quickly access the
starting salary range for their specified position and location and can be
accessed at www.roberthalf.com/SalaryCenter, www.rht.com/SalaryCenter and
www.officeteam.com/SalaryCenter for the accounting and finance, information
technology, and administrative fields, respectively.

Since 1950, companies have consulted the annual guides from Robert Half to
determine appropriate compensation for their employees. In addition, the U.S.
Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics references the guide when
preparing its comprehensive Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Robert Half International has more than 360 staffing locations worldwide and
offers online job search services on its divisional websites, all of which can
be accessed at www.rhi.com.

SOURCE Robert Half International Inc.

Michael Weiss of Robert Half International Inc., +1-650-234-6383,
michael.weiss@rhi.com