IT Salary GuideMinnesota IT Compensation & Hiring Trends

Table of Contents

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Understanding the IT Salary Guide 3

Finding the Right IT Professional 4

What Attracts Top IT Talent? 5

IT Hiring Trends in Minnesota 6

Determining Your IT Hiring Strategy 8

IT Salary Summary 9

Information Technology Salaries – Minnesota 10

Programming/Application Development 10

Web Development/E-commerce 12

Help Desk/Technical Support 13

Network/Security 14

Database 15

Business Intelligence/Analytics 16

IT Management 17

Talent and Job Search Resources 19

About Versique 19

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The Minnesota IT Salary Guide from Versique is a comprehensive resource on compensation and hiring trends in the Information Technology industry.

The information and figures inside are based on hundreds of full-time placements made by our experienced IT recruiting professionals, as well as thousands of candidates within our Applicant Tracking System. Our IT recruiting experts work with hiring managers and job seekers throughout Minnesota each day, which gives them unique and comprehensive insight into Minnesota’s IT compensation and hiring trends.

In addition to our own data and recruiter insight, we’ve gathered information from hiring and IT experts to bring you the most complete guide to the IT industry. In each of our practice areas, we strive to bring you a salary guide as unique as our approach to recruiting.

Understanding the latest salary trends and hiring outlook is integral to attracting and retaining the top IT talent within your organization. Our IT Salary Guide gives you the local insight you need to meet Minnesota’s emerging salary expectations in order to recruit, retain, and engage your current talent and your future workforce. The guide features:

• Accurate, up-to-date IT salary data and job descriptions for the top full-time positions throughout Minnesota

• Expert recruiting and compensation advice for employers on how to attract top level talent

• An in-depth look into the hiring outlook for IT jobs in Minnesota

• New and relevant job search advice and coaching on how to position yourself when negotiating your salary or raise

Understanding the

IT Salary Guide

4

Finding the

Right IT

Professional

“The top social site job seekers expected to find job postings was LinkedIn, but the site accounts for only 23% of all jobs posted on social,” says Susan Vitale, CMO of iCIMS. After LinkedIn, job seekers most frequently turn to Facebook and Google+.

Although many job seekers look to Facebook and Google+ for open job postings, only 1% of companies post jobs to Google+, even while jobs posted to the site get four times more views per job than any other platform.

In such a competitive industry and passive candidate market, companies hiring IT talent cannot rely solely on candidates applying to online postings. It is critical for companies to both connect with the passive IT candidate pool as well as know what attracts top IT talent.

“For the first time in nearly a decade, this year you will find the issues

of retention, engagement, and ‘attraction of talent’ to be top on your

priority list.”

Josh Bersin Deloitte, Human Capital Leader

To hire top IT talent companies must have a fast, flexible, and effective search and hiring process. IT talent must not only fit the technical requirements for a position, but also fit company culture. However, IT professionals are much less likely to apply to job postings than professionals in other areas. In fact, in the last 5 years 89% of Software Engineers have applied to fewer than two jobs according to a study conducted by TalentPuzzle.

This lack of IT applications shows a disconnect between where recruiters post jobs and where candidates search. A study by iCIMS® found that 51% of jobs posted on social media are posted to Twitter, and yet, only 1% of candidates expect to find a job on Twitter.

Open IT Jobs

122,300

IT Graduates

59,731

IT Talent

Demand

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What Attracts Top IT Talent?

• Beer carts• Wine cellars• Sponsored seasonal sports• Nap rooms• Arcades• Free soda/snacks• Rooftop patios

• Free massages• Pancake breakfasts• Mini-golf courses• Generous/unlimited PTO• Free bike storage• Casual dress• Bring your pets to work

Clever Company Perks

While monetary benefits play an important role in what attracts IT professionals, they tend to have a stronger focus on the nature of the role (i.e. will they be challenged, are they passionate about what the company does, will they have a direct impact within the company?) In fact, reports show that companies that challenge their IT professionals are more likely to retain them. Additionally, non-monetary perks like those listed below are playing an increasingly important role in career decisions for IT professionals. Overall, IT candidates want to work for an exciting company that becomes part of their lifestyle, not just “another job.”

The IT Industry

Ultimately, what many candidates in otherareas are looking for today is compensation and job stability. “With the impact of the recession, individuals, now more than ever, want to have a steady stream of high income to make up for those slow years during the recession,” says David Lewin, a world-renowned expert on HR strategy and employee engagement. While flexibility and the job details still play a significant role, compensation and job stability have increasingly become determining factors in deciding between opportunities for many candidates in other areas. [Adecco USA]

Other Practice Areas

Many Minnesota companies now offer perks like those below to attract and

retain their top IT employees.

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IT Hiring Trends in

MinnesotaThe IT job market in Minnesota is on the rise as technology plays an exponentially bigger role in business. IT jobs relating to mobile, big data, cloud, and security are growing especially quickly. Dice.com ranked Minnesota #15 in shortage of computer science graduates compared to the state’s technology job opportunities.

The hiring trends are reflected with the consistently low IT unemployment rates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that employment opportunities in computer and IT occupations in Minnesota are projected to grow as much as 25% within the next six years (much faster than the national average), with some IT disciplines exceeding +35% (i.e. information security analysts).

Since 2009, the total number of IT jobs has increased by more than 6,000, half of which were added by non-technology firms [MN Labor Information Market Office]. Many Minnesota IT hiring trends focus on IT security, big data, cloud computing, and mobile development. These trends come as no surprise, especially due to recent retail security breaches and the booming popularity of mobile devices.

As companies adjust to the digital age, the hiring of specialized tech talent in niche areas is becoming more difficult. “If you want them, you can be 100% sure there are at least two other firms that want them, as well," says Michael Kirven, founder and CEO of Mondo, a technology resource provider. Companies that have streamlined their hiring processes will find it easier to secure strong candidates. Since some candidates receive as many as 10 job offers each week, speed is more important than ever.

Hottest IT Positions in Minnesota

Programmers/Application Development

Business Intelligence/Analytics

Security

Project Management

Technical IT Leader

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Programmers and Developers in Minnesota have one of the lowest unemployment rates around – 1.8%, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, so it’s no wonder that they are the most sought after technology workers in the industry. In particular demand are those with mobile development expertise and experience building secure applications. Among those programmers, those with 1-3 years of experience are currently the most desirable candidates.

Programmers/Application Development

Gone are the days of making gut driven sales/marketing decisions.Technology has allowed organizations to make data driven decisions throughout the company and as a result, the need for individuals who can collect, analyze, and interpret data has skyrocketed in the Minneapolis – St. Paul market.

Business Intelligence/ Analytics

“The need for increased data security because of the growing number of data breaches is behind the interest in security professionals,” says Scot Melland, CEO of Dice. "Demand for people with security experience is up 10% year over year, and the unemployment rate for security and network administrators is currently 1.1%.” Therefore, it comes as no surprise that those with security administration experience are the third most in demand IT skill.

Security

While technology skills are important, they aren’t the only factor employers consider when looking at IT candidates to join their organization. Employers look for IT professionals who can help drive the organization forward to stay profitable and competitive through the quickly moving tech age. In particular, employers are looking for individuals who can effectively collaborate with others and communicate with business users.

Since technology is used in virtually every part of modern organizations, employers need IT employees who are strong communicators. As companies begin to expand their IT workforce, they look for experienced individuals who can lead various teams and act as a partner between IT and other divisions. As a result, many companies are turning to specialized search firms for assistance in quickly finding IT professionals to increase communication between divisions.

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Determining Your IT Hiring Strategy

Among IT employers, 33% currently have positions they are unable to fill and 38% of them say they’ll hire and train employees with no technology experience. With a shortage of IT talent and a widespread, fast-growing need for mobile, big data, cloud and IT security experience, companies in Minnesota will face two options to stay atop of the digital trends. They can either recruit and hire new IT talent or develop internal employees. Both options have pros and cons, but which is best depends on the individual company and their goals.

1. You are looking to change organizational culture by infusing new talent.

2. You don’t have the time to let someone grow into a position.

3. You want quick turnaround on a project, which is more often accomplished by outside hires.

4. You are looking to reach a larger candidate pool and attract talent from anotherorganization.

5. You want to bring new ideas/skills into a particular team.

When to Hire New IT Talent

1. You want to build your brand by showing potential candidates they will be rewarded with career development.

2. You understand that poaching candidates from other organizations means other companies can also poach from your talent pool.

3. You know that growing talent from within can solidify succession-planning issues.

4. Your company’s internal talent is a known commodity – you are aware of the current strengths and weaknesses, and can direct that talent to different areas of the company over time.

When to Develop Internal Talent

Minnesota has 19 Fortune 500 companies and the second most Fortune 500 companies per capita, next to Connecticut. With so many Fortune 500 companies and an extremely limited number of computer science and engineering graduates each year, IT companies in the Twin Cities will always need to recruit externally, making it very important to know when to hire externally and when to develop talent from within.

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Below are the average base salary ranges for various positions within the Information Technologyindustry, broken down by overall function. The ranges salaries are based on full-time placements made by our executive IT recruiting professionals, as well as tens of thousands of candidates within our Applicant Tracking System.

IT Salary Summary

Note: As was mentioned earlier in the guide, these ranges represent the average base IT salaries across a variety of industries and company sizes throughout Minnesota. While there are a number of non-monetary benefits, which can cause salaries with the same or similar titles, to fall outside these ranges, due to companies varying compensation structures, the ranges at the right are based solely on employee’s base salaries and do not include any type of monetary or non-monetary incentives. These types of non-monetary benefits can include compensation structure, retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, discounted parking, free coffee, company discount, work environment as well as a number of other non-monetary benefits.

Position Title Salaries

Programming/ Application Development

Java Developer $69,058 - $98,038

Sr. Java Developer $102,408 - $139,573

SAS Developer $57,874 - $107,065

Mobile Developer $57,500 - $132,480

Grails/ Rails Developer $71,774 - $127,995

.Net Developer $52,124 - $95,491

Sr. .Net Developer $82,074 - $126,546

PHP Developer $80,661 - $110,860

Technical Lead $110,279 - $143,515

Web Development

Web Designer $57,722 - $103,250

Web Developer $75,754 - $120,223

UI/UX Designer $64,978 - $104,789

Help Desk/ Technical Support

Help Desk Specialist $35,958 - $57,366

IT Support Specialist $54,146 - $87,131

Sr. IT Support Specialist $74,017 - $99,022

Help Desk Manager $89,957 - $115,127

Network/ Security

Network Administrator $69,531 - $105,864

Systems Administrator $66,275 - $89,565

Network Engineer $90,310 - $121,550

Sr. Systems Administrator $90,408 - $127,325

IT Security Engineer $97,843 - $153,307

Database

Data Architect $112,528 - $169,346

Database Administrator $97,897 - $143,888

Database Developer $104,018 - $153,119

Database Manager $127,104 - $172,753

Business Intelligence/ Analysis

Data Analyst $72,394 - $111,263

Business Analyst $61,479 - $106,384

Sr. Business Analyst $82,638 - $121,193

Business Intelligence Analyst $102,465 - $148,785

Business Intelligence Leader $150,214 - $200,575

IT Management

IT Project Manager $59,840 - $111,785

Sr. IT Project Manager $82,412 - $148,229

IT Manager $83,439 - $153,835

IT Director $97,075 - $208,945

VP of IT $165,164 - $302,698

CIO $164,228 - $351,670

CTO $160,885 - $344,619

CSO $197,626 - $355,355

Information Technology Salaries – MN

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Programming/Application Development

Java Developer Sr. Java Developer SAS Developer Mobile Developer Grails/Rails Developer

$69,058 - $98,038 $102,408 - $139,573 $57,874 - $107,065 $57,500 - $132,480 $71,774 - $127,995

Creates and designs web based applications using Java/JavaScript to support the company’s goals. Responsible for testing and addressing technical issues within the programs. May require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with 1-5 years of relevant programming experience.

Java Developer

Similar to a Java Developer, with the addition of mentoring more junior java developers. May require a bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of relevant java programming experience.

Sr. Java Developer

Designs and codes the look, feel, and mechanics of Android or iOS applications using programming languages such as C++, Adobe, PHP, Flash, MS/SQL, Java, HTML, XML, etc. Documents and analyzes bugs and glitches that arise within the mobile application and devises solutions to optimize performance. May require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 1-3 years of commercial mobile development experience.

Mobile Developer

Programs, maintains, and validates data structure software through figures, data sets, and statistical analysis. May be client facing and serve as a liaison between the client and development team. May require a bachelor’s degree and 1-5 years of related programming experience.

SAS Developer

Designs, maintains, tests, codes, and debugs software systems for websites and applications using the Ruby programming language. May require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 1-5 years of related programming experience.

Grails/Rails Developer

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Programming/Application Development cont.

Writes, modifies, tests, and debugs software for websites/applications using the .NET, C#, or Oracle programming languages. May require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field and 1-5 years of related programming experience.

.Net Developer

Similar responsibilities to a .NET Developer. Typically requires 5+ years of related .NET programming experience.

Sr. .Net Developer

Responsible for the development of new computer based solutions (using the PHP programming language) throughout the entire project life cycle, from inception through launch. Typically works closely with web designer/teams to ensure the solution matches the vision. May require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and 1-4 years of project management and/or programming experience.

PHP Developer

Develops the strategic roadmap for the development process/team. Responsible for mentoring junior developers on various coding techniques. May require a bachelor’s degree in computer science and 7+ years of related technical programming experience.

Technical Lead

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.Net Developer Sr. .Net Developer PHP Developer Technical Lead

$52,124 - $95,491 $82,074 - $126,546 $80,661 - $110,860 $110,279 - $143,515

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Web Development

Web Designer Web Developer UI/UX Designer

$57,722 - $103,250 $75,754 - $120,223 $64,978 - $104,789

Designs and constructs the creative elements of web pages/sites and ensures they are in line with the company’s brand. Responsible for maintaining and providing the ongoing design of the website, banner ads, and promos, and seasonal content. Typically requires a bachelor’s degree and 2-5 years of creative web design experience.

Web Designer

Designs and implements software code (HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript) to improve the performance and effectiveness of a website. Focuses on the concept and interface design of a website, while troubleshooting and debugging existing code to enhance the performance of an existing website. Typically requires a bachelor’s degree with 1-4 years of web development and website coding experience.

Web Developer

Designs the visual layout, visual interfaces, and interaction of web-based applications with products or websites to appeal to the end user. Works closely with the product development team to design graphics, pages, and the overall online user experience based on the design platform. Typically requires a bachelor’s degree with 3-5 years of experience in mobile or web design.

UI/UX Designer

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Help Desk Specialist IT Support Specialist Sr. IT Support Specialist Help Desk Manager

$35,958 - $57,366 $54,146 - $87,131 $74,017 - $99,022 $89,957 - $115,127

Help Desk/Technical Support

Provides support to end users (internal employees or customers) on a variety of technical issues, typically in a call center environment. Responsible for identifying and troubleshooting all technology issues including software, networking, and hardware. May require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 1+ years of experience.

Help Desk Specialist

Responsible for all aspects of computer set up, installation, upgrades, maintenance, and troubleshooting within the company. Documents bugs and system performance while maintaining and troubleshooting its hardware and software. Typically provides internal support for networks and computers. May require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 2+ years of experience.

IT Support Specialist

Similar responsibilities to an IT Support Specialist. Typically requires 3-6 years of experience in an IT technical support capacity.

Sr. IT Support Specialist

Plans, directs, and coordinates the daily operations of the help desk/technical support department while effectively resolving IT issues/questions. Responsible for investigating technical issues and proposing solutions to prevent future issues. Requires a bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of related help desk experience.

Help Desk Manager

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Network Administrator Systems Administrator Network Engineer Sr. Systems Administrator IT Security Engineer

$69,531 - $105,864 $66,275 - $89,565 $90,310 - $121,550 $90,408 - $127,325 $97,843 - $153,307

Network/Security

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Builds, troubleshoots, and resolves all connectivity and network related problems. Responsible for coordinating and implementing all network software and hardware upgrades including firewalls, hardware/software, servers, etc. Requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information systems and 3+ years of related network administration experience.

Network Administrator

Supports the installation, configuration, and maintenance of an organization’s mainframe or mid-frame operating system. Performs system backups and recovery and routinely conducts software and hardware audits. Usually requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field and 2-5 years of related IT administration experience.

Systems Administrator

Installs, configures, and maintains the organizations operating software and hardware. Troubleshoots and analyzes hardware and software problems associated with the company servers. May provide supervision for a team or technical supervision. Usually requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science and 5+ years of related IT experience.

Sr. Systems Administrator

Plans, designs, and develops network communications using knowledge of LAN/WAN systems to ensure the stability and integrity of in-house data. Continuously monitors and evaluates network and security solutions improve network performance. Requires a bachelor’s degree with 3+ years of related IT engineering experience.

Network Engineer

Designs and develops solutions to protect sensitive company files/information from outside sources. Tests, revises, and implements system/software upgrades to ensure the integrity of host computers. Requires a bachelor’s degree in IT engineering or a related field and 5+ years of experience.

IT Security Engineer

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Data Architect Database Administrator Database Developer Database Manager

$112,528 - $169,346 $97,897 - $143,888 $104,018 - $153,119 $127,104 - $172,753

Database

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Designs, builds, and maintains databases for data storage as well as develops strategies for data acquisition, archive recovery, and strategies for warehouse implementation. Cleans and maintains the database by removing old data. Typically requires a bachelor’s degree and 7+ years of related experience.

Data Architect

Monitors and maintains company databases and supporting applications. Evaluates technology and techniques to implement and maintain databases and database equipment. May require a bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years of related experience.

Database Administrator

Develops, maintains, and implements database schemas to ensure optimal performance. Codes, tests, documents, and debugs database models and management systems. Requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field and 5+ years of related IT development experience.

Database Developer

Responsible for creating documentation and training to ensure all staff know how to use the database. Coordinates with programmers and developers to ensure errors or issues within the database are corrected as well as acts as a consultant to various technical departments and management. Typically has a background in programming. Requires a bachelor’s degree in IT and 7+ years of relevant experience.

Database Manager

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Data Analyst Business Analyst Sr. Business Analyst Business Intelligence Analyst Business Intelligence Leader

$72,394 - $111,263 $61,479 - $106,384 $82,638 - $121,193 $102,465 - $148,785 $150,214 - $200,575

Business Intelligence/Analytics

Collects and analyzes data results through complex data mining and data aggregation. Works closely with business leaders to determine analytical requirements. Typically reports to a manager. Requires a bachelor’s degree and 2-4 years of related IT experience.

Data Analyst

Responsible for the entire life cycle of a product as well as coordinating and analyzing logistical project functions. Interprets management-related information to solve problems and improve efficiency. Requires a bachelor’s degree and 2-5 years of related IT experience.

Business Analyst

Responsible for collecting data through interviews, surveys, web research, etc. to better analyze and identify trends, opportunities, and dangers associated with a project. Requires a bachelor’s degree along with 5+ years of related business analysis experience.

Sr. Business Analyst

Mines, collects, and analyzes data to uncover trends within an organizations operation to help improve an organization’s overall competitive position. Develops projections on the outcome of implementing particular business strategies. Requires a bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of relevant analyst experience.

Business Intelligence Analyst

AKA Chief Storyteller. Partners with various division leaders to develop and determine the company’s data collection strategy. Presents the trends and insights uncovered by Business Intelligence Analysts to various department teams to help them make informed data driven decisions. Requires a bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of related IT experience.

Business Intelligence Leader

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IT Management

IT Project Manager Sr. IT Project Manager IT Manager IT Director

$59,840 - $111,785 $82,412 - $148,229 $83,439 - $153,835 $97,075 - $208,945

Responsible for the coordination and delivery of beta/production releases. Sets deadlines, monitors continued progress of the project, and prepares project update reports for management. Requires a bachelor’s degree and 2-5 years of related project management experience.

IT Project Manager

Oversees all aspects of one or more projects within the IT department. Responsible for assigning responsibilities, setting deadlines, monitoring the progress of the project, and assisting in preparing project reports for upper management. Requires a bachelor’s degree with at least 5+ years of related IT project management experience.

Sr. IT Project Manager

(Small Sized Company)Usually the highest IT position at a small sized company. Responsible for a wide variety of functions within IT. Typically manages a small team of IT professional. Requires a bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of related IT management experience.

(Mid-sized – Large Company)Monitors the day-to-day operations of the IT department. Responsible for managing resources and processes required to design, plan, and support all information products and services. Requires a bachelor’s degree and 6+ years of relevant experience.

IT Manager

Plans, establishes, and implements the policies and goals for the entire IT department. Responsible for analyzing the technology needs of various departments and determining ways to meet business goals by developing new information systems. Must have previous experience managing others. Requires a bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of related management experience. Typically reports to the CTO/CIO or VP of IT.

IT Director

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IT Management cont.

Responsible for establishing the direction and strategy of the company’s information systems as well as managing the execution of the strategy. Identifies new information technologies to help improve business processes. Requires a bachelor’s degree with at least 10+ years of IT management experience.

Vice President of IT

Responsible for the strategy and direction of the organization’s technology function. Directs the design, acquisition, and implementation of the enterprise-wide technology infrastructure. Ensures the technology infrastructure runs efficiently and complies with policies and standards. Typically requires an advanced degree and at least 12+ years of IT leadership experience.

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Establishes and directs the long-term goals, procedures, and policies within the IT department. Responsible for determining the system and hardware needs of the organization. Typically requires an advanced degree in a related area and 12+ years of leadership experience.

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Supervises the development and implementation of information security standards, procedures, and protocols to ensure all information systems are functional and secure. Responsible for determining and managing information security standards and contingency plans for security breaches. Requires an advanced degree an at least 12+ years of IT leadership experience, preferably within the area of security. Typically reports to top-level management.

Chief Security Officer (CSO)

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Vice President of IT Chief Information Officer (CIO) Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Chief Security Officer (CSO)

$165,164 - $302,698 $164,228 - $351,670 $160,885 - $344,619 $197,626 - $355,355

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Talent and Job Search Resources

Call today to find a new opportunity, or start the search for

your team’s top IT talent!

Contact Our

IT Team

info@versique.com952-935-2000

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About VersiqueVersique is a single-source talent acquisition firm specializing in both permanent placement and consulting services throughout Minnesota. Our IT team places qualified candidates in roles including:

With a combined 350+ years of executive recruiting experience in our specialized practice areas, we utilize our unique approach to create meaningful connections and place the right candidates in the right roles. We work in a variety of practice areas including IT, Sales, Engineering & Operations, Marketing, Finance & Accounting, HR, and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG).

With revenues over $20 million, Versique and sister company, McKinley Consulting, have become known as Minnesota’s top single-source recruiting firm, discovering top-tier talent for our clients.

• .Net, Java, PHP Developer • IT Manager, Director and VP • Chief Technology Officer (CTO)• Project/Program Manager • Business Analyst • UI/UX Analyst • Digital IT roles

• IT Analytics• Database Administrator• Business Intelligence• ERP (SAP, Oracle, etc.)• System/Network Administrator• Technical Support Engineer• And more!

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