Ready for that pay raise? Your employer just might be ready to give you one.

In 2009, 30 percent of employers froze salaries across the board, but according to Mercer’s 2009/2010 U.S. Compensation Planning Survey Update, just 14 percent are planning to freeze wages in 2010. The survey was conducted in November and includes responses from more than 350 mid-size and large employers in the United States.

Although fewer employers plan to freeze wages, base-salary increases are expected to decrease from 3.2 percent in 2009 to 2.7 percent in 2010. The expected salary increases in 2010 are also below projections in a similar survey by Mercer in April.

“While planned 2010 base increases have dropped a bit from employers’ projections in April and are less than 2009 increases, this is still positive news given the fewer firm-wide pay freezes and staff reductions planned now compared to this time last year,” said Loree Griffith, a principal with Mercer’s rewards consulting business, in a release.

Griffith said companies are preparing for economic recovery and are turning their focus to retaining employees and engaging top talent.

“Recognition programs, career development, training opportunities and creative communication campaigns – efforts that help keep employees engaged and motivated – along with incentive pay strategies will give companies a competitive edge as business begins to improve,” she said.

In a breakdown by industry, the survey found that the education industry would have the most pay freezes at 30 percent, followed by durable goods (20 percent), and services (18 percent). The survey found that only 4 percent of employers in the insurance industry were planning pay freezes.