OVERVIEW
What Is an IT Manager?
IT managers work in information technology in a managerial capacity. But IT isn’t just tech support for a company’s employees. The job is typically more varied than that. IT managers take the lead on projects, allocate work among team members, and make sure that the technological side of the company is running smoothly.
Forward-thinking and ambitious IT managers will also stay aware of new technological developments that can be utilized by the company. The fields of information technology and computer science are rapidly growing, and the most effective leaders in IT are those paying attention to emerging trends and technologies.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does an IT Manager Do?
As an IT manager, your role is to ensure that your company’s technological infrastructure is in good shape and that any IT projects in the company are being completed on schedule. This covers a wide variety of different tasks, such as:
- Assigning work projects. As an IT manager, your job is to allocate your company’s work projects to the teams working under you. You’ll need to make sure teams are working well together and meeting their goals.
- Ensuring team productivity. Part of an IT manager’s job is to make sure that the company’s employees can stay productive and on task. Depending on the company, an IT manager may also be expected to choose the company’s software and hardware, and to keep everything up-to-date.
- Maintaining company networks and servers. A good company stays connected. Employees need to be able to communicate with each other quickly and effectively, and they need to be able to do so without worrying about security breaches or network failures. An IT manager’s job will deal with any server errors or security breaches swiftly.
Where Do IT Managers Work?
IT managers are needed in virtually every industry, from government organizations to hospitals to businesses. Technology is critical to success in nearly every company and organization, so you can find a job as an IT manager pretty much everywhere. You can choose the type of industry where you want to work and take charge of their IT and technical side, helping them reach success.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become an IT Manager?
Step One: Earn a bachelor’s degree
A fulfilling career starts with a good educational background, and if IT management seems right for you, apply for a bachelor’s degree in information technology management. This type of degree will be an important step in preparing to manage an IT department by giving you information and insight into how IT infrastructure works, enhancing your background understanding of information technology and giving you some key leadership skills focused on technical teams.
Step Two: Earn an advanced degree
To stand out among your peers, consider getting a master’s degree. Earning a graduate degree is a great way to boost your resume and keep your career propelling forward. You can apply for an MBA with a focus on information technology management or, if you prefer focusing on the technical side of things, a master’s degree in information technology management will give your resume that something extra you’ve been looking for. Both of these degree programs will combine business and leadership skills with specific IT knowledge and strategy. This is key to preparing you for leading IT teams to success.
Step Three: Keep building your expertise
A successful career, especially one in management, depends on a lifetime of learning. Try to keep learning new skills and areas of expertise even after you get hired; this will give you plenty of opportunities to keep growing and prove to your supervisors that you’re hardworking and ambitious.
Step Four: Build your leadership skills
A good IT manager must be comfortable managing a team, and that requires leadership skills. Take the lead on work projects whenever possible, and show initiative in all of your work. You can even look for résumé-building activities outside of work that will help you grow as a leader.
Best Degrees for a IT Managers
Business
IT Management – B.S. Business Administration
IT managers are needed in nearly every organization:...
IT managers are needed in nearly every organization:
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 19 months
- Tuition: $3,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Team Leadership
- Operations Management
- Communication
- Agile Project Management
- Analytical Techniques
- Information Technology
Key competencies of these online courses align with industry needs: management and leadership, networks and security, and information systems management.
Technology
Information Technology – B.S.
Award-winning coursework and value-add certifications make this online...
Award-winning coursework and value-add certifications make this online program a top choice.
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 39 months.
- Tuition: $3,725 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 36 total courses in this program.
Certifications included in this program at no additional cost:
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Project+
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
- Amazon AWS Cloud Practitioner
- ITIL®*^ Foundation Certification
- LPI Linux Essentials
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Scripting and programming
- Networking and security
- Systems and services
- Data management
- Business of IT
Technology
Information Technology Management – M.S.
A degree for experienced IT professionals ready to lead....
A degree for experienced IT professionals ready to lead.
- Time: 60% of graduates finish within 18 months.
- Tuition: $4,040 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 10 total courses in this program.
Included in your program—at no extra cost—is the opportunity to earn the valuable PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification.
- Technology operations and integration
- Sourcing and planning
- Risks and influence
- Solutions development
- Project management
Maximize the opportunities that your IT career path has afforded you—earn your master's and keep moving up.
Business
MBA Information Technology Management
Earn the online college degree that can move your career into IT upper...
Earn the online college degree that can move your career into IT upper management:
- Time: Graduates can finish in 12 months
- Tuition: $4,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program
Sample careers and jobs this business degree will prepare you for:
- Management
- Project Management
- Leadership
- Innovation
- Communications
- Information Systems Security
Learn to navigate emergencies, execute strategies, and optimize systems with the competencies within this specialty MBA.
Technology
Accelerated Information Technology Bachelor's and Master's Degree
Earn both your bachelor’s in IT and master’s in IT management at a faster...
Earn both your bachelor’s in IT and master’s in IT management at a faster pace with fewer courses.
- Time: Approximately 5 years.
- Tuition: $3,835 per 6-month term for the bachelor's degree; $4,040 per term for the master's portion.
- Courses: 42 total courses in this program.
Certifications included in this program at no additional cost:
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
- Amazon AWS Cloud Practitioner
- ITIL®*^ Foundation Certification
- PMI CAPM
- LPI Linux Essentials
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Scripting and programming
- Networking and security
- Systems and services
- Data management
- Business of IT
This program allows students to earn their bachelor's degree in IT and move directly into a master's degree in IT management, cutting down on the total number of courses to complete.
Business
Leadership Certificate – School of Business
Enhance your résumé and take a step in your educational journey with the...
Enhance your résumé and take a step in your educational journey with the help of a leadership certificate from the School of Business.
- Time: 4 months from start to finish.
- Cost: $2,250 for the certificate.
- Courses: 3 courses total in this program.
This program is for emerging leaders, however this program does not require a bachelor’s degree, and provides transferable credit towards a WGU degree program.
Whether you aspire to work for a Fortune 500 organization, a government agency, a non-profit organization, or a fast-paced start-up, this certificate can give you the keys to success in a variety of industries, including:
- Finance and Banking
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- IT
- Consulting
- Nonprofit
- Government
Business
Master of Business Administration
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management,...
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management, strategy, and leading teams:
- Time: Graduates can finish in 12 months
- Tuition: $4,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Leadership strategies
- Talent management
- Communication
- Data collection and interpretation
- Financial statements
Our competency-based model gives you an innovative learning experience you won't find anywhere else—and our MBA grads tell us they loved accelerating their program to see a faster ROI.
Business
IT Management – B.S. Business Administration
IT managers are needed in nearly every organization:...
IT managers are needed in nearly every organization:
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 19 months
- Tuition: $3,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Team Leadership
- Operations Management
- Communication
- Agile Project Management
- Analytical Techniques
- Information Technology
Key competencies of these online courses align with industry needs: management and leadership, networks and security, and information systems management.
How Much Does an IT Manager Earn?
$151,150
IT is a lucrative field, and as a manager, you can expect to earn more than the average IT employee. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor reported a median annual income of $151,150 for computer and information systems managers. Ambitious IT managers who climb the ranks can expect to earn even more. The industry where you work will also impact your salary level.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
11%
The U.S. Department of Labor projects strong growth in this field in the coming decade: approximately 482,000 people were reported to be working in computer and information systems management in 2020, and the field is expected to grow by about 11% between 2020 and 2030. That means plenty of opportunity for anyone who’s planning to enter the IT profession right now.
SKILLS
What Skills Does An IT Manager Need?
A strong background in computer science and information technology is certainly useful, but you’ll also need to be good at working with people, organizing teams, and communicating effectively with colleagues. The following are some of the most important skills that you’ll want to hone on your way to becoming an IT manager.
- Computing skills and expertise
- Information technology skills and expertise
- Personnel and business management skills
- Leadership skills
- Organizational skills
- Communication skills
Remember; there’s always room to grow and improve your skills. IT is a diverse, exciting, and constantly evolving field. So keep your knowledge up-to-date.
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