Looking at proxy filings from 55 U.S. public companies with revenues ranging from $1 billion to $150 billion, CAP partner Kelly Malafis says, the survey finds that 78.2% of the CFOs received salary increases in 2010, versus 54.5% of CEOs. To put it another way, nearly half (45.5%) of CEOs got no salary increase last year, while only 21.8% of CFOs got similarly skunked.

This indicator also improved slightly relative to 2009, when 69.1% of the CFOs received raises and 30.9% did not. CEOs, on the other hand, saw their salary progress slow down during the period. More CEOs (60%) got raises in 2009 than 2010.

What we're seeing overall, says Malafis, is "a return to the higher salary increases for key positions," with the economy in recovery mode.

Meanwhile, compensation research firm recently prepared its 2011 report on CFO pay strategies in the S&P 600, studying 386 companies that have had the same finance chief in place for at least two years. That study found that the median compensation for the CFOs grew by 20.2% between 2009 and 2010, with median total comp being about $924,848 for the group, up from about $769,389.

The median total bonus payout it recorded grew 46.7%, to $200,158 from $136,454. CFOs in the basic materials sector received the highest compensation, according to the report: a median total pay of $1.09 million in 2010.