SAM and licensing staff "do not know their worth"

Survey shows that 44 per cent of respondents unsure whether or not they are well paid

Nearly half of software asset management (SAM) and licensing professionals in the UK are confused about whether or not they are being paid the going rate, according to a new survey.

The figures, conducted by MerlinCorp recruitment agency, showed that only a quarter of SAM and licensing staff were satisfied with their wages, while 30 per cent were unhappy, and the remaining 44 per cent did not know how their pay compared.

The results, which were gathered from 900 respondents, showed SAM consultants in the UK can earn on average £55,000 per year, with practice lead roles achieving an average annual salary of £77,000.

Paul Davis, managing director of MerlinCorp, said wage inflation, stemming from the growth in demand for SAM, had left some unsure as to whether or not they are being paid enough.

"The area [of SAM and licensing] is growing massively because everyone is looking at compliance. Big vendors are doing audits on their enterprise clients to see if they are using enough of their licences, and I predict this will grow and grow," he added.

"I am trying to educate the masses by letting them know how much they could earn if they moved on [to a new role].

"People who stay in their jobs for longer are less likely to get paid the going rate. If they move, they manage to get huge salary increases as they realise they are worth more."