Pay rises in private firms so far this year have averaged 2.8%, the highest level since the end of 2008, according to a report.
A study of more than 40 settlements by XpertHR found that median awards increased from 2.5% in the final quarter of last year.
Almost half of January pay deals were worth at least 3%, although six involved wage freezes.
Sheila Attwood of XpertHR said: "The data collected to date suggests that pay bargaining in 2012 has got off to a good start and that, for many private sector workers, pay rises higher than the levels seen in 2011 are a real prospect."
The report was released on the same day that a Regus study revealed that only one in five UK firms is planning to trade overseas, far fewer than in France or Germany, leaving up to £20bn in potential profit on the table.
The survey of 12,000 companies, including 2,700 in this country, showed that almost twice as many in France as in the UK are prepared to do business deals in foreign markets.
Workplace services firm Regus said UK firms are "cold-shouldering" foreign expansion even though it could be good for their business, with exports playing an increasingly important role in the economy.