IT Director Career and Salary Profile
Information technology (IT) directors manage computing resources for organizations in nearly every industry. These professionals are vital to ensuring that a company’s information technology is continuously available and secure. Enrolling in an MBA program with a specialization in Information Technology Management is a great start to advancing to a challenging and rewarding IT director career.
Job Outlook for IT Directors
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment growth in the computer and information systems manager category will see faster than average growth in coming years. New technology and expanding business needs will continue to spur demand for IT directors. Individuals with strong business skills and advanced technical knowledge, as well as those with MBAs will have the best job prospects.
Job Duties
Among the responsibilities of an IT director is the management, strategy and execution of IT infrastructure for an organization. They oversee technical projects in alignment with organizational goals and direct the effective delivery of networks, development, and disaster recovery systems and processes. These professionals often work with information engineers to find solutions to manage business activities.
IT directors frequently supervise a team of workers, while working closely with management, external vendors and advisors. They may prepare financial budgets and present proposals for capital projects to senior executives. Other IT director job duties might include researching and recommending new products, identifying new market opportunities and leading efforts to improve IT processes.
IT directors typically work in office environment. A 40-hour week is standard but overtime may be required when launching projects. Depending on the employer, travel to conferences or among satellite facilities may be required.
Salary Potential
According to national salary data on PayScale.com, as of December 2010, IT directors had a median total income of about $104,644 per year, with those in the 25th to 75th percentile earning between $72,779 and $136,509 in total pay.
PayScale.com data also indicated that IT directors with a master’s degree can earn significantly more than those with only a bachelor’s degree. In fact, based on 75th percentile salary figures, IT directors with an MBA earned approximately $141,101 per year while those with a BS in Computer Science earned $119,382 per year – a differential of over 18%.
With additional experience, IT directors can move into roles of increasing responsibility, resulting in much higher potential annual pay. A sampling of executive IT salaries on PayScale.com in December 2010 showed that a VP of information technology and a chief information officer in the 75th percentile of earners brought in approximately $190,172 and $199,513 per year, respectively.
The data shows that the top salaries generally go to IT directors with solid experience and the advanced education employers need to remain competitive in a shifting global business environment.
Education and Training Requirements
Most IT director jobs require a bachelor’s degree and extensive experience; however, many employers prefer to hire candidates with a master’s degree.
Individuals competing for the best IT director jobs can distinguish themselves by earning an MBA with a specialization in IT Management. Coursework typically includes management information systems, database management technology, global information management and organizational behavior.
Employers can be confident that professionals who have earned an MBA with a specialization in Information Technology Management are able to:
- Identify e-business strategies in a global marketplace.
- Solve real-world technology challenges.
- Evaluate new technologies for competitive advantage.
- Apply contemporary business principles integral to a high-tech organization.
- Leverage advanced knowledge and skills to succeed as an IT director.
Essential Skills for Success In An IT Director Career
IT directors have a great deal of responsibility – so they need a broad range of skills, from technical knowledge to understanding modern business practices. If you have technical expertise along with leadership sand communication skills, plus a background in business management, you could experience success as an IT director. An MBA with a specialization in Information Technology can augment your skill set and strengthen your ability to land a top IT director position.
