Robert Half recently released their 2015 Salary Guide. Their report shows that starting salaries for professional occupations are expected to grow about 3.8% on average in 2015. Technology salaries are projected to have the largest increase in the next year, up 5.7%. Accounting, finance, and creative starting salaries are expected to grow 3.5% on average. The salaries featured in their report reflect average starting pay for new employees. Their numbers don't reflect bonuses, incentives, and other forms of compensation.

Robert Half's Projected Salary Growth by Field for 2015

SOURCE: Robert Half

In Robert Half's Salary Snapshot, they list the top 10 jobs to watch. These are the jobs with the highest projected percentage growth. IT jobs take up the top 4 positions. Lawyers ranked 5th among the jobs to watch for salary gains. Starting salaries for Mobile Applications Developers are expected to rise the most at 10.2%. 

SOURCE: Robert Half

If your organization is looking to fill these jobs, you should be aware of what salaries are being offered to potential candidates. Keeping your salary above or in the range of your competition may help your position appeal to candidates. We examined the average advertised salaries for Robert Half's Top Positions to Watch. This data will enable you to benchmark your advertised salaries and see if it's on par with the market average. Keep in mind that advertised salaries are the pay that employers use in their job ad to attract talent, not necessarily the agreed upon value between employer and employee. Below you will also find Robert Half's 2014 salaries, their 2015 projections for comparison, and the year-to-year percentage change. 

WANTED Analytics Market Salary Range reflects the 10th through the 90th percentiles advertised salaries that are included in job ads throughout the US. For the positions at the top of the list, the high end of the advertised salary ranges are less than the highest of the 2015 projections. However, the 90th percentiles of the market salary ranges for Human Resources Assistant, Sr. Business Systems Analyst, Staff Accountant, Content Strategist are higher than the 2015 projections. Most of the lowest market salary ranges are below Robert Half's expected salaries, except for Staff Accountant. 

If you are advertising openings for these jobs and your salary happens to be below the market salary, consider increasing what you offer to attract more candidates. You may also consider rising your salary now to meet the 2015 projections to gain a head start on your competition. Keep in mind that market salaries and projections will vary by area. For example, as may be expected, market salary ranges for Mobile Applications Developer are higher than average in San Francisco, CA ($118,000 - $151,000.) Employers in this location are facing more competition and may need to offer higher salaries than other cities to remain competitive. For comparison, market salary ranges are somewhat lower for this profession in San Diego, CA, $72,000 - $105,000.

SOURCE: WANTED Analytics

Do your salaries need to be more competitive to attract top talent or are they on par with the market average?