IT Manager
IT Manager
IT Managers plan, direct, support and champion 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 18% from 2010 to 2020, almost three times the 7% growth rate of non-IT management jobs.
Business and computer schools offer a wide range of information technology management training programs. Compare the top-reviewed IT management courses and degrees in the U.S., Canada and online below.
a.k.a. Information Systems Manager | Technology Manager | IT Director | Vice President of IT | Chief Information Officer (CIO)
IT Manager Salary
IT Manager Education Requirements
IT Manager Training and Degrees
IT Manager Certifications
IT Manager Jobs
IT Manager Job Outlook
IT Manager Related Careers
IT Manager Skills & Responsibilities
Typical day-to-day activities and in-demand skill sets for IT managers include the following:
- IT Managers are responsible for strategic IT planning, including fostering innovation & allocating monetary resources.
- IT Managers direct operational IT planning, including planning IT projects and the allocation of manpower resources.
- IT Managers oversee the financial aspects of their IT team or dept., including purchasing, budgeting & budget review.
- IT Managers coordinate IT staffing, including hiring, supervision, scheduling, professional development and discipline.
- Successful IT managers keep their computer skills & expertise current with the cutting edge of technological innovation.
- IT Managers collaborate with and maintain communications with executives and department heads in the organization.
- IT Managers design, implement and enforce the policies, procedures and best practices for their IT team or department.
- IT Managers research IT solutions and make recommendations for the improvement of IT systems and IT infrastructure.
- IT Managers negotiate and approve technology vendor, outsourcing, and consultant contracts and service agreements.
- IT Managers should have superior skills in team leadership, employee development and interpersonal communication.
- IT Managers should have a strong command of project management principles, procedures and best practices.
IT Manager Salary
- IT Manager average starting salary (USA): $111,000
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IT Manager Salary $111,000 |
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Average starting salaries for IT managers and related positions:
- IT Help Desk Manager salary: $84,875
- QA/Testing Manager salary: $93,625
- Network Manager salary: $98,625
- Web Development Manager salary: $102,125
- Software Development Manager salary: $107,750
- Applications Development Manager salary: $110,875
- Information Technology Manager salary: $111,000
- Database Manager salary: $115,000
- IT Project Manager salary: $121,250
- Information Systems Security Manager salary: $123,500
- Director of Systems Integration salary: $128,250
- Chief Security Officer (CSO) salary: $143,625
- Vice President of Information Technology salary: $151,375
- Chief Technology Officer (CTO) salary: $154,500
- Chief Information Officer (CIO) salary: $182,625
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.
Research and compare the top-rated IT Manager training programs in the U.S. and online below.
IT Manager Training & Degree Programs
Browse the top-rated undergrad & graduate degrees, professional certificates, online training programs and self-paced courses matching the IT Manager education requirements and career path.
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IT Management Training |
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Master of CIS - IT Project Management
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Master's of Information Systems Management (MISM)
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Master's of Business Information Management
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Project Management Certificate
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Master's of Computer Science in Software Engineering
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Master's in Database Management
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Master's in IT Security & Assurance
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Find IT Management Schools
IT Manager Certifications
Highly desirable certifications for Information Technology Managers include the following:
- CISSP: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (IT Security Management)
- PMP: Project Management Professional (Project Management)
- OCP: Oracle Certified DBA Professional (Database Management)
- CompTIA Project + Certification (Project Management)
- CISM: Certified Information Security Manager (IT Security Management)
- Six Sigma Green Belt Certification (Process & Quality Management)
- Six Sigma Black Belt Certification (Process & Quality Management)
- CCIE: Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (Network Management)
- ITIL Expert Certification (IT Process Management)
IT Manager Jobs
Your IT management education and practical experience qualify you for a variety of lucrative positions including:
- IT Manager: Browse and apply to Information Technology Management jobs
- IT Project Manager: Browse and apply to IT Project Management jobs
- Chief Information Officer: Browse and apply to CIO job openings
- Chief Technology Officer: Browse and apply to CTO job openings
- Vice President of IT : Browse and apply to VP of Information Technology jobs
- Network Manager: Browse and apply to Network Management jobs
- Database Manager: Browse and apply to Database Management jobs
- Web Developer Manager: Browse and apply to web developer management jobs
- Software Developer Manager: Browse and apply to software developer management jobs
- Businesses & Hiring Managers: Post jobs and find IT management candidates at a discount
IT Manager Job Outlook
Employment for IT managers & information systems managers is expected to increase by 18% from 2010 to 2020, faster that the average for all occupations. The growth of IT managers will be closely related to the growth of the technology occupations they supervise. Unprecedented growth in a range of IT employment domains - including network & database administration, web & mobile application development, cloud computing and·virtualization technologies - will continue to drive demand for information technology workers this decade, in turn fueling the need for educated and talented IT managers.
Job prospects for qualified IT managers are "excellent" according to the U.S. Labor Department. IT management job candidates with specialized technical knowledge & experience, superior communication skills, and strong business acumen, as well as those holding an advanced degree with a tech-focused concentration will enjoy the best hiring prospects.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2012-2013 Occupational Outlook Handbook (BLS.GOV)
IT Manager Related Careers
IT Career Paths
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Online IT Schools
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- The Art Institutes
DeVry offers accredited degrees & certificates in the most demanded computer skills and technologies. Learn online or at one of 95+ campuses in the U.S. & Canada.
Strayer University offers working adult students a quality education that’s affordable, convenient and supportive. Earn your degree or certificate on your schedule!
Full Sail University's creative design degrees & online learning platform just won the 21st Century Best Practices award from the U.S. Distance Learning Association!
Looking for a creative career in web design, game art & programming, multimedia or visual effects? The Art Institutes is the global leader in digital arts training and degrees.
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