MORE than one-third of Australian chief information officers received a pay rise in the past year, but overall they were less fulfilled in the role than their global counterparts, a survey found.
The number of Australian CIOs who were given a pay rise last year was 6 per cent higher than the global average of 29 per cent, according to the Harvey Nash CIO Survey 2013.
It found 81 per cent received a bonus, up 4 per cent on the previous year, while 19 per cent saw their bonus increase.
The average Australian CIO salary is $US262,000 ($268,950), up from $US260,000 last year. The survey's global average pay is $US205,018 this year.
The annual survey found 76 per cent of CIOs globally were fulfilled in their role, compared with 68 per cent in Australia.
The number of Australian CIOs who moved job last year was 14 per cent, down 9 per cent. However, 28 per cent planned to move job this year.
"I think maybe a bit of that restlessness comes from them being able to see we have huge potential here, but then it is having the budgets, the resources and the time scales to successfully deliver it," Harvey Nash Australia managing director Bridget Gray said.
The survey involved more than 2000 CIOs globally and was undertaken in the first quarter of this year.
The report highlights how much of the growth in technology lies in digital, mobile and social areas that the CIO shares with other executives.
It found IT budget growth levels globally were returning to pre-recession levels, with 43 per cent of CIOs operating with bigger budgets this year, compared with 47 per cent in Australia.
Australian CIOs trended towards more entrepreneurial and innovative characteristics and were more business facing with growth in their skills base and diversity.
"They (Australian CIOs) are more collaborative and less controlling, but they feel less well paid and are less happy than they were," the survey found.
Ms Gray said that 63 per cent of chief information officers wanted to commit more time and resources to innovation.
"This demonstrates the growing variance in the typical CIO's portfolio and the high expectations they have of themselves," she said.
The report found 10 per cent of Australian CIOs were women, 2 per cent higher than the global average. It noted 60 per cent of Australian CIOs saw the role becoming more strategic, which was 8 per cent less than the global average. Australian CIOs were also less worried about retaining talent, 84 per cent compared with 90 per cent globally.
Fifty-six per cent would increase their reliance on flexible labour, which was 14 per cent greater than the global average.
Fifty-one per cent would increase their outsourcing investment, compared with 42 per cent globally.
Australian CIOs also were likelier to hire architecture skills, 43 per cent, compared with 39 per cent globally.
Seventy-three per cent saw mobility solutions providing competitive advantage in the coming year, 10 per cent more than the global average.
