IT Salary Tracker: Device driver writers

Device drivers, those little applications that make our hardware peripherals go, have often complicated the lives of programmers and systems administrators. They range in complexity from fairly straightforward program routines for simple devices–such as sound cards or zip drives–all the way to the very complex video drivers that manage screen display. Drivers require attention whenever a peripheral device is added or altered, or when a new version of the driver is released. That’s why driver writers, the pros who create program routines for the devices on a system, are often called in when a system is implemented or converted.

Fully 59% of all device driver writer positions in May 2000 were in Silicon Valley, according to dice.com, Datamation’s sister site and an online job board for IT professionals. More than two-thirds of the total demand for these professionals was comprised of C/C++ and Windows NT jobs. Skills in somewhat lesser demand included UNIX, Linux, and embedded software (usually customized software). The overall average salary for driver writers was $84,000; and the highest regional salaries were paid in Silicon Valley, at an average of $91,500 per year.

Results are based on averages or totals from the following information at dice.com: job titles, job skills, and locations. Benefits are not included in compensation listings. Next week: UNIX professionals. —Zach Rodgers

• Highest salary by location (average):
  Silicon Valley, $91,500 yearly salary
• Highest salary by skill type (average):
  Windows NT, $85,000 yearly salary
• Highest demand by location:
  Silicon Valley, 59% of total job listings
  
  
  
  
  
  Chart data compiled by Laurie Souza.

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