The median base salary increases are projected to hit 3 percent this year, according to recent research by the Hay Group, a global consulting firm.

This 3 percent median increase is consistent for executives, middle management, supervisory and clerical positions, and this figure is rather steady across most industries. Once calculating annualized consumer price index growth at 3.0 percent, projected employee wage growth is in line with inflation.

Although most industries are in line with the 3 percent median base salary increase, including the industrial, retail and financial services sectors, the economy affects the various industries differently. Certain health care jobs, such as nursing and clinical employees, are experiencing 2.5 percent median increases, but employees in the oil and gas sectors are seeing 4 percent median increases planned for 2012.