Nearly two thirds (62 per cent) of IT workers would be prepared to reveal their salaries to their colleagues in order to gain fairer wages.

And roughly seven out ten (68 per cent) employees believe that senior managers should be forced to disclose their earnings, according to recruitment consultancy Hudson.

Two in three male workers surveyed by the firm were prepared to reveal their salary, compared with almost half of female staff.

Over half (61 per cent) of respondents believed that increased transparency over pay would help to bridge the gender pay gap, which currently rests at around 17.5 per cent for identical jobs conducted by men and women.

"IT professionals are ready to break one of the biggest taboos in the workplace – revealing salaries – in order to ensure true equality of pay," said Luke Archer, director at Hudson.

"The gender pay gap persists, and businesses that neglect to address it are risking alienating half their workforce. Those that promote equality and back this up with visible action will prosper – particularly in an economic climate where retention of the right talent will become more business-critical."

While full disclosure across all levels is unlikely to be possible at many companies, an increase in openness can help to life staff morale, said Archer.

One thousand UK staff were questioned in the survey.