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.
Compare your salary with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the UK
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
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
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
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Selected fixtures
All times UAE
Wednesday
Poland v Portugal 10.45pm
Russia v Sweden 10.45pm
Friday
Belgium v Switzerland 10.45pm
Croatia v England 10.45pm
Saturday
Netherlands v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Denmark 10.45pm
Sunday
Poland v Italy 10.45pm
Monday
Spain v England 10.45pm
Tuesday
France v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Wales 10.45pm
More on animal trafficking
Results
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh195,000 1,400m | Winner: ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m | Winner: Al Shamkhah, Royston Ffrench, Sandeep Jadhav
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,200m | Winner: Lavaspin, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,200m | Winner: Kawasir, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 1,600m | Winner: Cosmo Charlie, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
9.20pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m | Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 2,000m | Winner: Quartier Francais, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Multitasking pays off for money goals
Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.
That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.
"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.
Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."
People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.
"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."
Score
Third Test, Day 1
New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat
On Instagram: @WithHopeUAE
Although social media can be harmful to our mental health, paradoxically, one of the antidotes comes with the many social-media accounts devoted to normalising mental-health struggles. With Hope UAE is one of them.
The group, which has about 3,600 followers, was started three years ago by five Emirati women to address the stigma surrounding the subject. Via Instagram, the group recently began featuring personal accounts by Emiratis. The posts are written under the hashtag #mymindmatters, along with a black-and-white photo of the subject holding the group’s signature red balloon.
“Depression is ugly,” says one of the users, Amani. “It paints everything around me and everything in me.”
Saaed, meanwhile, faces the daunting task of caring for four family members with psychological disorders. “I’ve had no support and no resources here to help me,” he says. “It has been, and still is, a one-man battle against the demons of fractured minds.”
In addition to With Hope UAE’s frank social-media presence, the group holds talks and workshops in Dubai. “Change takes time,” Reem Al Ali, vice chairman and a founding member of With Hope UAE, told The National earlier this year. “It won’t happen overnight, and it will take persistent and passionate people to bring about this change.”
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: India, chose to bat
India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)
Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40
AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
Gender equality in the workplace still 200 years away
It will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe, according to a December report from the World Economic Forum.
The WEF study said there had been some improvements in wage equality in 2018 compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the first time in a decade.
But it warned that these were offset by declining representation of women in politics, coupled with greater inequality in their access to health and education.
At current rates, the global gender gap across a range of areas will not close for another 108 years, while it is expected to take 202 years to close the workplace gap, WEF found.
The Geneva-based organisation's annual report tracked disparities between the sexes in 149 countries across four areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.
After years of advances in education, health and political representation, women registered setbacks in all three areas this year, WEF said.
Only in the area of economic opportunity did the gender gap narrow somewhat, although there is not much to celebrate, with the global wage gap narrowing to nearly 51 per cent.
And the number of women in leadership roles has risen to 34 per cent globally, WEF said.
At the same time, the report showed there are now proportionately fewer women than men participating in the workforce, suggesting that automation is having a disproportionate impact on jobs traditionally performed by women.
And women are significantly under-represented in growing areas of employment that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, WEF said.
* Agence France Presse
Dubai World Cup Carnival card:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 | 2,410 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m
The%20US%20Congress%20explained
%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20one%20of%20three%20branches%20of%20the%20US%20government%2C%20and%20the%20one%20that%20creates%20the%20nation's%20federal%20laws%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20divided%20into%20two%20chambers%3A%20The%20House%20of%20Representatives%20and%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%C2%A0The%20House%20is%20made%20up%20of%20435%20members%20based%20on%20a%20state's%20population.%20House%20members%20are%20up%20for%20election%20every%20two%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20bill%20must%20be%20approved%20by%20both%20the%20House%20and%20Senate%20before%20it%20goes%20to%20the%20president's%20desk%20for%20signature%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%20218%20seats%20to%20be%20in%20control%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20The%20Senate%20is%20comprised%20of%20100%20members%2C%20with%20each%20state%20receiving%20two%20senators.%20Senate%20members%20serve%20six-year%20terms%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%2051%20seats%20to%20control%20the%20Senate.%20In%20the%20case%20of%20a%2050-50%20tie%2C%20the%20party%20of%20the%20president%20controls%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
MATCH INFO
Everton 0
Manchester City 2 (Laporte 45 2', Jesus 90 7')
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Votes
Total votes: 1.8 million
Ashraf Ghani: 923,592 votes
Abdullah Abdullah: 720,841 votes
Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, Friday, March 29, 5pm at The Sevens, Dubai
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
BANGLADESH SQUAD
Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (vice captain), Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahaman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The Porpoise
By Mark Haddon
(Penguin Random House)
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
