Techies have received an average bonus of 28k in 2010

Technologists working in the financial sector received an average bonus of nearly 28k this year, and a large proportion are optimistic that headcount is set to increase over the coming year.

These figures come from our 2010 Compensation Survey, which polled over 650 financial professionals on their bonus payouts this year. In IT, which received nearly 40 responses, the average bonus payment came out at 27.9k.

This may not seem like a particularly lofty sum, but it beats the average bonus paid in the middle office (24.7k) and the back office (17.3k).

Bonuses paid to techies have obviously never matched those offered to their front office counterparts, but the figures above are not entirely reflective of the size of payouts on offer across the board.

At the junior end bonuses are currently coming in at just 10% of base salaries, suggest headhunters, while those at AVP level on a 75k base should expect a bonus of between 10-20%.

Higher up the ranks, however, bonuses look more generous. Headhunters are suggesting that director level technologists, earning a base of 175k, have this year received upwards of 200k as a bonus. Obviously, these payments are subject to the new bonus regulations.

It's also worth remembering that base salaries for technologists within investment banks increased throughout 2010. Pay rose by an average of 25-40% in 2010, according to figures from recruiters the JM Group, both as a response to rising demand and the trend towards focusing on salary increases across the industry.

Moreover, our survey suggests that technology headcount is set to increase again this year, with 43% of respondents saying they expected recruitment in this sector in 2011. Only sales (53%) and risk management (46%) received a more positive response.