Information technology remains a strong career path, with staff-level IT pros earning a median $80,000 in total compensation, while managers earn a median $105,000, according to a survey by InformationWeek.

However, the recession is hurting IT pros, with median total raises of just 0.7% for staff and 1.6% for managers. And the pain varies significantly depending on the industry and geographic region, the survey finds. Hard hit areas include Detroit and Los Angeles, where the typical IT pro is receiving no raise, while Washington, D.C., still reports solid median raises.

"All in all, this is better news for IT professionals than we were expecting," said Art Wittmann, Managing Director of InformationWeek Analytics. "But we also find that the once believed recession-resistant industries, such as healthcare aren't immune to the downturn."

IT professionals report that they are less secure about their jobs with IT unemployment at its highest since 2004. Thirteen percent of respondents felt their jobs were "insecure," compared with only 8% last year. Only 37% consider their positions to be very secure, compared with more than half (51%) last year.

The survey also found that strong tech skills still can pull a good paycheck. The top-paying staff functions include those responsible for data mining, data integration, security, ERP, and Web infrastructure, all of which have median compensation of more than $90,000. Companies continue to put a premium on these skills. By title, IT architects top the list again this year, the only non-management job with median pay above $100,000.

Two-thirds of the IT professionals are satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs, including the pay, while just 11% are dissatisfied. A majority of IT pros feel fairly secure in their jobs and satisfied with their pay and responsibilities, but only 33% think an IT career is as promising as it was five years ago - 10 percentage points lower than in 2008.