Accounting salaries on the rise.

• Position: Survey Says

Increased competition for finance and accounting professionals will lead to an average 3.1 percent rise in next year's starting salaries, according to the 2006 Salary Guide from Robert Half International.

In the wake of SOX, corporate governance positions will see the most growth, with information technology auditors seeing their average starting salaries rise 11.2 percent, to between $67,000-$94,250. Entry-level internal auditors at small companies can expect starting salaries to rise 9 percent, to between $35,000-$43,250.

It's also projected that...