SAM salaries soar as demand outstrips supply

Average software asset management salary in 2014 stands at £45,820, up 46 per cent from 2012

Salaries in the software asset management (SAM) space have rocketed in the past two years, according to new research, which claims that firms are so desperate for skilled staff, they have almost doubled some pay cheques.

SAM recruiter Merlin Corp carried out its Salary Survey research among members of its 4,500-strong LinkedIn group and received responses from staff from 27 countries across the globe.

The average salary in the SAM space this year is $77,000 (£45,820) a year, up 46 per cent from 2012, the research claimed. SAM and licensing consultants now enjoy an annual wage of $94,901, up 57 per cent since 2012.

Merlin Corp's managing director Paul Davis said the rocketing rates are down to "simple supply and demand".

"The demand for SAM consultants to carry out audits and ELPs [effective licensing positions] on behalf of clients has grown quite massively over the past 12 months as there are simply not enough skilled people out there," he said.

"Our clients are either having to pay more than usual to get new talent through the door or bring people on at entry level to train them up."

The recruiter's research found that entry-level staff – those with less than two years' experience – are paid 80 per cent more than they were in 2012 as their salaries hit the $70,000 mark.

"I believe the reason even entry-level people are worth more now is because the companies who trained them want to keep them and the best way of doing that is to pay them handsomely and treat them well, of course," added Davis.

The full results of the survey are available to those who take the survey via the LinkedIn group and the recruiter will release the findings to those who do not wish to take part if they donate £10 to Cancer Research via its JustGiving page.