If the survey is based on 102 tech positions nationwide, it probably won't give you a very accurate picture of average IT salaries. It's also important to note how many of the positions reported in your responses matched the positions reported on the survey, says Forman, noting that there should be some kind of matching tool to correlate job titles with actual skills. The best salary surveys include some kind of matching tool to correlate job titles with actual skills, Forman says. Because salaries for, say, Java programmers can vary greatly between Silicon Valley and Waterloo, Iowa, a survey that breaks down the results by region or city will yield much more accurate data. If the results are nationwide, try to find out if the sample included individuals from all parts of the country, including cities of all sizes.
Salaries also vary in the level of the techies' experience.
Another approach is to identify skills associated with each position as PWC has done with its latest reports. She also notes that job titles are not always an accurate depiction of the responsibilities and job functions, which, for example, can vary greatly from one network admin to another. If possible, find out if the sample included techies from a range of companies, from startup ventures to established tech shops. There are no hard and fast rules about which survey sponsor has legitimate information and which doesn't. Most salary surveys don't account for this alternative or additional compensation, which in some cases could supplement a salary that's lower than average.