Technology Managers plan, direct and support IT initiatives.
IT
managers ensure that their team or department operates efficiently,
effectively and inline with organizational goals. These professionals
work closely with senior executives and department heads to identify,
develop and support new technology solutions. IT managers are also
responsible for creating and ensuring adherence to organizational IT
policy, procedures and best practices.Rapid growth in a range of IT job markets, including networking, cloud computing, software development, data storage and virtualization, plus the proliferation of mobile and wireless technologies, is driving demand for IT workers across the board, which in turn is fueling job growth for the managers who lead and supervise IT personnel. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts IT manager employment to grow by 15% from 2012 to 2022, over two times the 7% growth rate of non-IT management jobs.
IT Manager Skills & Responsibilities
Typical day-to-day activities and in-demand skill sets for technology managers include the following. IT managers:
- Are responsible for strategic IT planning, including fostering innovation & allocating monetary resources.
- Direct operational IT planning, including planning IT projects and the allocation of manpower resources.
- Oversee the financial aspects of their IT team or dept., including purchasing, budgeting & budget review.
- Coordinate IT staffing, including hiring, supervision, scheduling, professional development and discipline.
- Collaborate with and maintain communications with executives and department heads in the organization.
- Design, implement and enforce the policies, procedures and best practices for their IT team or department.
- Research IT solutions and make recommendations for the improvement of IT systems and IT infrastructure.
- Negotiate and approve technology vendor, outsourcing, and consultant contracts and service agreements.
- Should have superior skills in team leadership, employee development and interpersonal communication.
- Should have a strong command of project management principles, procedures and best practices.
IT Manager Salary
- The average starting salary for IT managers in the U.S. is $132,375.
IT Manager Salary $132,375
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Starting salary ranges for IT managers and related positions:
- IT Help Desk Manager: $84,500 - $121,000
- Telecommunications Manager: $88,500 - $125,000
- Network Manager: $100,000 - $146,750
- Information Technology Manager: $105,750 - $159,000
- Software Development Manager: $105,750 - $160,500
- Web Development Manager: $111,250 - $154,000
- Database Manager: $118,000 - $170,500
- Information Security Manager: $129,750 - $182,000
- Chief Security Officer (CSO): $140,250 - $222,500
- Vice President of Technology: $141,000 - $225,000
- Chief Technology Officer (CTO): $147,500 - $229,000
- Chief Information Officer (CIO): $172,000 - $268,250
IT Manager Education Requirements
In addition to some level of technical experience, IT managers are required to have at least a bachelor's degree education in IT, preferably with well-rounded major such as computer science, information technology or management information systems. Though a bachelor's degree may be sufficient when balanced with extensive field experience, most hiring managers prefer IT management candidates with a graduate degree. A Master's of Business Administration (MBA) with a technology concentration is the ideal program for IT managers, as the MBA curriculum covers the business and managerial skills necessary to succeed in a leadership role, and the IT focus teaches managers·how to best apply this knowledge in the technology workplace. Most MBA programs include capstone projects wherein students put their hard-earned skills to the test in a simulated business project to be judged by professors and/or active practitioners in their respective fields.Marketable skills to look for in an IT management education program include project management, team leadership, professional development, IT strategy, corporate decision-making, database & network management, managerial finance, research & analysis methodology, and superior oral, written & non-verbal communication skills. With recent technological advancements in online learning platforms, the subject matter in IT manager training programs works better than ever before in the distance learning format.
