Scroll down for detailed guides on salary brackets for various sectors
Employees in the US can look forward to an average salary rise of about 4 per cent in 2024, as continuing inflationary pressure and a tight labour market puts employers on notice to retain and attract talent, according to a report by global advisory company Willis Towers Watson.
However, this year’s 4 per cent increase is down from the 4.4 per cent average salary rise in 2023, WTW says in its Salary Budget Planning survey.
“We are seeing healthy salary increases forecasted for 2024,” says Hatti Johannsson, WTW’s research director for reward, data and intelligence.
“Though economic uncertainty looms, employers are looking to remain competitive for talent, and pay is a key factor.”
While inflation has eased in the world’s biggest economy, after hitting a peak of 9.1 per cent in June 2022, it remains above the US Federal Reserve’s 2 per cent target.
On Tuesday, the Labour Department said that February’s consumer price index rose to 3.2 per cent on an annual basis, up from 3.1 per cent in January.
Despite the Fed’s aggressive interest rate rises to cool the economy and ease the cost-of-living crisis, the jobs market has remained strong, with the US adding 275,000 jobs last month and unemployment coming in at 3.9 per cent, according to Labour Department data.
“At the same time, organisations should remember pay levels are difficult to reduce if markets deteriorate,” Ms Johannsson says.
“It’s best to avoid basing decisions that will have long-term implications on their organisation on temporary economic conditions.”
Meanwhile, the push for hybrid or remote working benefits continues in US workplaces, with half of the workers saying they would be willing to take a pay cut if they could work from anywhere, according to a survey by FlexJobs, a US-based subscription service for employees seeking flexible and remote jobs.
FlexJobs polled more than 4,200 employees in the US between February 6 and February 19 for its survey.
About 26 per cent of people surveyed said they would accept a 5 per cent pay cut and 25 per cent stated they would accept a salary decrease of either 10 per cent or 15 per cent, the survey found.
“Among generations, millennials showed the highest willingness to exchange key job factors, such as salary, chances for professional development and increased working hours, for a remote job without location restrictions,” FlexJobs said on Tuesday.
“Less than one third [31 per cent] of millennials said they wouldn’t give up anything for a work-from-anywhere job, compared to 41 per cent of Gen X and half [50 per cent] of boomers.”
The findings echo a separate survey by US recruitment specialist Onward Search, which found that 90 per cent of respondents to its Hiring Trends 2024 report would leave on-site jobs for remote opportunities.
What is the salary and employment outlook for jobseekers in the US in 2024? Read on to find out – and don’t forget to look at our detailed salary guides below for a snapshot of your industry.
Will salaries increase in 2024?
Yes, employees can expect an average salary rise of about 4 per cent in 2024 – slightly above the current inflation rate.
However, wage increases are likely to be more measured compared with recent years, according to recruitment specialist Robert Half.
“For some professionals, that might be a reason to look for other opportunities,” the company says in its 2024 Salary Guide.
“This is not lost on hiring managers, many of whom continue to increase compensation to retain key staff and better compete for top talent in a tight hiring market.”
Salary transparency is also becoming more important for jobseekers in 2024, with 42 per cent of workers expecting to see a salary range in a job posting and 57 per cent saying they would withdraw their application if an employer does not provide it upon request, the Robert Half research found.
Since the start of the year, eight US states and several cities have introduced pay disclosure laws that require salary ranges to be included in job advertisements, according to the Onward Search report.
“This year, US pay transparency laws and company policies are expected to multiply and hiring managers are increasingly disclosing pay upfront on their own accord,” Onward Search says.
Which sectors can expect the highest salary increases in 2024?
A salary rise is not always guaranteed and is dependent on several factors, including an employee’s ability to negotiate a higher wage, the sector they are working in, performance reviews, a company’s bottom line and whether or not their role is in demand.
According to research by Resume Genius, a US-based online resume builder, employees in the manufacturing, IT, legal, sales and healthcare sectors could see the biggest wage increases in 2024.
Some of the most in-demand jobs include lawyers and judicial law clerks, software and web developers, financial analysts and advisers, fitness workers, sales representatives, healthcare support occupations and designers, among others, Resume Genius says.
Despite the rise of artificial intelligence and the effect of the 2023 tech layoffs, there continues to be strong market demand for software and web development professionals, which is driving wage growth, it adds.
“The demand for software engineers and developers is projected to increase by 25 per cent over the next decade,” Resume Genius says.
Watch: UAE issues remote work visas
Meanwhile, more than 50 per cent of companies are planning to invest in artificial intelligence in 2024, which could result in 97 million new jobs by 2025, according to Onward Search.
New AI roles have already emerged, such as chief AI officers and AI prompt engineers, it adds.
“Emerging technologies have already advanced at an unprecedented rate in recent months and specialists predict that 2024 will bring more technological advancements than many creatives, marketers and even tech experts could imagine,” Onward Search says in its trends report.
What benefits can US jobseekers expect in 2024?
Employers are trying to strike a healthy balance within their total rewards packages and are focusing on non-monetary benefits to retain talent, according to WTW research.
This includes more workplace flexibility (63 per cent), a broader emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion (60 per cent) and efforts to improve the employee experience (55 per cent), WTW says.
However, employees want benefits such as health insurance, retirement savings plans, paid time off, paid parental leave, remote work options and flexible work schedules to also be included in their remuneration packages, Robert Half says in its salary guide.
“Highly skilled professionals expect not just a base salary that’s in line with what other firms are offering but also a choice of benefits and perks that are equally competitive,” it says.
In 2023, year-end bonuses were down between 3.8 per cent and 36.2 per cent relative to 2022
Gusto
Will employees receive a bonus in 2024?
That remains to be seen, but if last year’s bonuses are anything to go by, then it might be a disappointing year for employees.
While year-end bonuses are an important retention tool and improve employee morale, a report by payroll company Gusto found that bonuses have fallen over the past two years, driven by a “stabilising labour market and squeeze on employers from inflation”.
“In 2023, year-end bonuses were down between 3.8 per cent and 36.2 per cent relative to 2022, and down between 12.3 per cent and 36.7 per cent relative to 2021,” it said in the report, which was published in January.
According to Gusto data, bonuses paid in December by companies registered on its platform averaged $2,145, a 21 per cent drop from the $2,730 average in December 2022.
US salary guide 2024
Check out our detailed salary guides below for a snapshot of how much you can expect to be paid in your sector this year.
Finance and accounting
Technology
Marketing and creative
Administration and customer support
Legal
Health care
Human resources
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto On sale: Now Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally • Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered • Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity • Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
German intelligence warnings
2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
Princeton
All matches in Bulawayo Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
