About the Survey

About the Survey

Our survey process utilizes a hybrid data collection approach, and we surveyed designated HR contacts at some of our member firms who requested that type of input and to another audience of individual respondents from firms that did not have HR participation. Both efforts saw a good response rate, with 18 HR departments reporting on more than 728 people and another 1,939 responses coming directly from individuals. With two distinct survey tools, we provided filtering/screening to ensure that any individual was reported only once; you can read the details about the reporting methodologies under Scope and Methodology. We benefit from our members’ annual review of the functional areas to ensure we’re providing roles that typically relate to the information technology arena.

Geographic Regions

We’re providing trended data for three prior years. In addition to compensation data reported by firm size, you’ll find reports based on the geographic regions and divisions (as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget) as well as several positions analyzed by metropolitan areas.

 

Data Analysis

Compensation surveys (when done correctly) carry particular burdens and responsibilities for anonymity of respondents’ data. To ensure that ILTA remained distant from the data, we partnered again this year with The Bench Survey Group. It is they who hosted the electronic questionnaire, maintained and analyzed the data and drafted the final report.
 
In keeping with our goal of providing comprehensive compensation data to our members, this year's results are available using a data visualization tool. Each section will provide further instructions for drilling down into data of specific interest to you.

 

Scope

In March, we emailed an invitation to participate to 9,296 ILTA members working in U.S. law firms. The invitation included a link to participate in a short survey requesting salary information for 123 different job titles across 12 functional areas of IT. We also invited 36 law firm HR departments to participate in this year's effort. HR department contacts received a link to a different survey instrument to facilitate reporting on multiple IT employees. These contacts were identified by our member firms to accommodate requirements regarding employee participation in compensation surveys.
 
We sent various reminders and incentives to participate during April. A total of 1,939 individuals responded to the member survey, and 1,618 submitted valid information. Responses were excluded due to part-time status, no functional area identified, non-U.S status and missing salary data. Additionally, we received 18 surveys from HR professionals representing an additional 728 IT employees.
 
After thoroughly cleansing the data to remove duplicates and outliers, a total of 2,346 valid responses are included in this year's data.

Methodology

Statistics are calculated using participants' actual responses. In calculating the average salary, all reported salaries within a functional area and corresponding job title are added together and divided by the number of individuals providing data.
 
All salary data is reported in the aggregate to ensure confidentiality of the respondent. No statistics are shown for any job title that does not have salary data from at least five respondents. The lower and upper quartiles are reported only when data is collected from seven or more respondents. Therefore, certain tables will only show averages or medians. The number of respondents for each job title is shown on the Salary Table.
 
The statistical terms used in the report are defined as follows:

  • Quartiles are used to define the middle 50% of the range of salaries. One quarter lies below the first or lower quartile (25th percentile). One quarter lies above the third or upper quartile (75th percentile).

  • The median (50th percentile) is the middle or central number in a series of numbers arranged in order of value. There are equal numbers of smaller and larger observations on either side of the median.

  • The average (or mean) is the total value of all observations divided by the number of observations. This number may be distorted by a few outliers.

  • Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

Enterprise or Departmental Management of IT (Technology/Systems)
Includes head of IT, IT managers and supervisors, remote office IT managers, etc., where the scope of responsibility involves systems/technologies. Title should specifically reference IT (technology, IS, or systems). The primary duties of the position involve the leadership and/or supervision of others; has responsibility for successful outcomes within the scope of position. 

• Chief
• Director
• Assistant Director
• Manager
• Assistant (or Junior) Manager
• Administrator
• Assistant (or Junior) Administrator


Security
Includes any position where the primary duties specifically relate to security strategies, development, deployment and oversight. The term “security” might apply to network security, cyber security, physical security, risk management (often working closely with general counsel), and/or work with regulatory/compliance agencies.
 
• Director
• Officer
• Senior Manager
• Manager
• Administrator
• Architect
• Engineer
• Analyst
• Specialist

Application Development
Includes any title specifically related to application development and might encompass developers, programmers, systems analysts and testers for applications that are not Web-based. (This does NOT include applications on the Web.)
 
• Director
• Assistant Director
• Manager
• Assistant (or Junior) Manager
• Administrator
• Assistant (or Junior) Administrator
• Coordinator
• Supervisor
• Developer
• Programmer
• Analyst
• Technician
• Specialist

Litigation and Practice Support
Includes any title specifically related to litigation or practice support. It encompasses the head of a firm’s practice support group, litigation support group and all departmental or functional managers/supervisors who work in these groups.
 
• Director
• Assistant Director
• Manager
• Assistant (or Junior) Manager
• Administrator
• Assistant (or Junior) Administrator
• Coordinator
• Supervisor
• Technician
• Specialist
• Analyst
• Specialist

Network Services
Includes any position where the primary duties relate to developing or supporting infrastructure technologies. Positions that fall into this category would include responsibilities in the following areas: network administration, servers, LANs, WANs, data center, equipment maintenance, remote access, disaster recovery, e-mail system administration and security (where security is not a separate functional area). (This does NOT include application development or telecom/audio-video services.)
 
• Director
• Assistant Director
• Manager
• Assistant (or Junior) Manager
• Administrator
• Assistant (or Junior) Administrator
• Coordinator
• Supervisor
• Architect
• Engineer
• Technician
• Specialist


Helpdesk and Desktop Support 
Includes any title specifically related to helpdesk and desktop/hardware support, which can include support of applications on PCs; support for the use of laptops, handheld devices, printers, scanners, multifunction devices (including break/fix); and home support; may include tracking and management of IT assets.

• Director
• Assistant Director
• Manager
• Assistant (or Junior) Manager
• Administrator
• Assistant (or Junior) Administrator
• Coordinator
• Supervisor
• Technician
• Specialist

Application Administration 
Includes any title that relates to the administration of applications. Duties might include application deployment and configuration. This functional area includes database administration, administering accounting and HR systems, email, CRM, document management systems, etc.
 
• Director
• Assistant Director
• Manager
• Assistant (or Junior) Manager
• Administrator
• Assistant (or Junior) Administrator
• Coordinator
• Supervisor
• Specialist

Knowledge Management 
Includes head of firm’s KM department, functional managers and supervisors. The primary duties of the position involve supporting the firm’s KM initiatives, processes and systems. Some technologies related to KM include client-facing KM tools (extranets, etc.), data mining, enterprise search, expertise location, taxonomy/folksonomy systems, legal research and social networking.
 
• Chief
• Director
• Assistant Director
• Manager
• Assistant (or Junior) Manager
• Administrator
• Assistant (or Junior) Administrator
• Coordinator
• Analyst
• Developer
• Researcher

IT Project Management 
Includes directors, managers, supervisors and coordinators of a Project Management Office. The primary duties of the position involve the project management/coordination of IT-related endeavors. This is not a legal project management position.

• Director
• Assistant Director
• Manager
• Supervisor
• Coordinator
• Specialist
• Assistant


End User Technology Training 
Includes any title that references training. The primary duties of the position involve supporting competency management, e-learning, firm universities, skills assessment.
 
• Director
• Assistant Director
• Manager
• Assistant (or Junior) Manager
• Administrator
• Assistant (or Junior) Administrator
• Coordinator
• Supervisor
• Trainer
• Technician
• Specialist
• Courseware/e-Learning Developer
• Writer/Editor

Telecom and Audio-Video 
Includes any title that specifically references telecom (other than LAN/WAN) or A/V. Some specific areas of responsibility might include phones, switches, VoIP, voicemail teleconferencing and videoconferencing.
 
• Director
• Assistant Director
• Manager
• Assistant (or Junior) Manager
• Administrator
• Assistant (or Junior) Administrator
• Coordinator
• Engineer
• Technician
• Specialist

Portal/Intranet and Web Development
Includes any position with primary responsibility for the development, maintenance and support of the firm’s Web-based systems, including portal/intranet system design, development and management; portal/intranet content management; and development of Web applications.
 
• Director
• Assistant Director
• Manager
• Assistant (or Junior) Manager
• Administrator
• Assistant (or Junior) Administrator
• Coordinator
• Analyst
• Developer
• Researcher
• Engineer