Wages paid to U.S. technology temporary workers rose 6.85 percent in the third quarter from the same period last year, according to Yoh’s third-quarter index of technology wages. The increase is the largest seen since September 2009.

“Two trends that jump from the numbers and provide optimism are the rate of increase in September, as well as the acceleration of the rate of increase over July, August and September of 2011 versus the same months in 2010,” said Yoh President Lori Schultz. 

“This velocity suggests that skilled temporary professionals are finally beginning to gain much-needed leverage in the marketplace, and are using that leverage to seek higher wages,” Schultz said. “This trend can only occur when job seekers believe that job demand is increasing and that there is less risk in rejecting a lower paying position today in anticipation that wages might be greater tomorrow.” 

The Yoh index of technology wages is based on a sample of paychecks to more than 5,000 technology workers.

Yoh is a Philadelphia-based provider of technology staffing.