Starting salaries for executives set records in ’85.

According to a study released by Robert Half International Inc., starting salaries for financial executives, accountants and data-processing professionals reached record levels. The financial-executive and data-processing recruiting firm said the study has been conducted annually since 1950 and is used as a salary review guide by many corporations. Robert Half, head of the organization, reported that the 1985 financial starting salaries were up an average of 3.5% over 1984, with a 5.9% rise recorded for data-processing positions. The starting salary range for chief financial officers at companies with a $50-million to $250-million volume is $54,000 to $84,000, up 1.5% over 1984.