U.S. employees can expect median base salary increases of 2.8 percent in 2011, according to a new Hay Group survey. This compares to median actual base salary increases of 2.4 percent in 2010. Planned increases in 2011 are also at 2.8 percent for management/professional and support positions. Executives and skilled trade jobs come in slightly lower at 2.7 percent.

"Relatively speaking, a forecasted median 2011 base salary increase of 2.8 percent is good news for employees who, over the past two years, saw the lowest salary increases in decades," said Tom McMullen, Hay Group's North American Reward Practice Leader. "Hay Group's survey also points to a positive trend in organizational staffing. We found that the number of organizations increasing their staffing levels is double that of organizations that are decreasing their staffing levels."

Hay Group's research also indicates that many of the cuts organizations have made to labor costs due to the recession have already happened. The percentage of organizations using or considering significant labor cost reduction items is considerably lower than data reported 18 to 24 months ago.