Are you wondering how much an IT director makes? A manager in the field of information technology (IT) is a professional who is responsible for all the IT operations of an organization, including research, planning, and implementation, and typically leads teams of computer science professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, IT directors make an average annual salary of $120,950, or $58.15 per hour. Read on to learn more about the pay and job outlook for this career field, as well as how to become an IT director.
Salary by Field/Region
The salary range for IT directors spans from less than $74,940 per year for the lowest-paid 10 percent, to more than $187,200 per year for the highest paid 10 percent. The discrepancies in this range are largely based on industry and salary. Highest paying industries for IT directors include, in order, motor vehicle manufacturing; securities and commodities; and entertainment/performing arts promotion. Regional salaries tend to be highest in the mid-Atlantic region, as well as California, Texas, Washington, Virginia, and Florida. IT managers in those areas make between $131,300 and $155,020 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Job Outlook for IT Directors
This field is expected to enjoy extensive growth over the next 10 years. Projected growth of 15 percent, which is much higher than that of other occupations, will result in more than 50,000 new jobs for IT directors. The states that employ the most IT directors are, in order, California, New York, Texas, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Growth will largely be driven by rapidly advancing technology and the need for additional support and security around these new modules.
Becoming an IT Director
Most IT directors have a combination of a bachelor’s degree in either computer science or management of information systems (MIS), and a master’s of business administration degree. In general, directors have an average of five to ten years of work experience before attaining that position. One pathway would be to earn your bachelor’s degree and secure a position in the industry where you’re interested in becoming a director, then working on your MBA as you gain years of work experience. In general, you’ll first advance to become a project manager, then director, then chief technology officer, who can then go on to become a top executive in the organization. Key attributes for those in this career include a keen ability to problem-solve, work with others across departments, be creative with technology, and have very good communications, leadership, and organizational skills.
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If you have an interest in and aptitude for computers as well as a desire to work with people and solve problems, IT management is a lucrative field that is expected to grow exponentially over recent years.
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