In its 2008-09 Annual Salary Survey, Dice.com (a career site for technology and engineering professionals) surveyed over 19,000 technology workers between August and November 2008 and found that the average salary was $78,035, a 4.6% increase over the previous year. The survey broke results down by factors such as metropolitan area and industry.

By metropolitan area, technology professionals in the Charlotte area made out the best, enjoying a 14.7% salary increase over 2007, followed by St. Louis, where IT pros had average pay increases of 12.7%. IT salaries were up 9% in Detroit, 7.1% in Los Angeles, 5.8% in New York, and 3.8% in Chicago.

By industry, IT professionals in Computer Hardware field fared the best, with average raises of 9.4% Workers in the Internet Services industry also made out well, enjoying average salary increases of 8.8%.

“That average tech salaries are rising even as the economy falls reveals how much has changed since the dot-com days,” Tom Silver, SVP & CMO at Dice, said in a press release announcing the survey results. “Today many technology professionals are seen as core assets where they work. As they enhance their skills, they'll need to align those efforts with the market's shifting demands. However, over the long-term, updating and broadening one's skill set is the key to continued salary gains.”