IT directors: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

IT directors, including management information systems (MIS) directors, are in charge of their organizations information technology (IT) departments, and they directly supervise other employees. IT directors help to determine the business requirements for IT systems, and they implement the policies that have been chosen by top executives. IT directors often have a direct role in hiring members of the IT department. It is their job to ensure the availability of data and network services by coordinating IT activities. IT directors also oversee the financial aspects of their department, such as budgeting.

Education Required
Computer and information systems managers normally must have a bachelors degree in a computer- or information sciencerelated field. These degrees include courses in computer programming, software development, and mathematics. Management information systems (MIS) programs usually include business classes as well as computer-related ones.
Job Outlook
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 12% (Faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.)
Advancement
Most computer and information systems managers start out as lower-level managers and advance to higher positions within the IT department. IT directors or project managers can advance to become CTOs. A CTO or other manager who is especially business-minded can advance to become a chief information officer (CIO), the person in charge of all IT-related decisions in an organization. CIOs can advance to become top executives in an organization.
Median pay: How much do Computer and Information Systems Managers make?
$135,800 Annual Salary
$65.29 per hour

Careers for Computer and Information Systems Managers

  • Application development directors
  • CIO
  • CTO
  • Chief information officers
  • Chief information officers (CIOs)
  • Chief technology officers
  • Chief technology officers (CTOs
  • Computer operations managers
  • Computer security managers
  • Data operations directors
  • Data processing managers
  • IT security managers
  • Information systems directors
  • Information systems managers
  • Information technology directors
  • Information technology systems directors
  • Internet technology managers
  • MIS directors
  • Management information systems directors

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