{"id":7319,"date":"2020-05-19T04:45:18","date_gmt":"2020-05-19T08:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/?post_type=news&#038;p=7319"},"modified":"2025-06-23T15:47:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T19:47:04","slug":"how-to-become-an-it-manager","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/how-to-become-an-it-manager\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become an IT Manager: Requirements &#038; Responsibilities"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"f862c97100d898773dd915a3810aee54\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:0px;\">\n\n<\/div>\n<p>Information technology is an extensive field that covers many professions. In a day and age where computers are becoming a part of many jobs and our daily lives, it\u2019s easy to see why IT has grown so much. IT management is one of the branches of IT, and it comes with many responsibilities.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the requirements you should meet, the responsibilities you will have, and the career paths you can take as an IT manager.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-an-information-technology-manager\">What Is an Information Technology Manager<\/h2>\n<p>An information technology manager is a professional who is experienced and capable of handling any IT task. They are able to evaluate new hardware, assist others, run cables for the creation of new areas, and many others.<\/p>\n<p>These individuals often have distinct traits and personalities. They\u2019re often confident, energetic, and highly intellectual. Although part of being a good IT manager is earning an IT degree, soft and technical skills are also a big part of it.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"becoming-an-it-manager\">Becoming an IT Manager<\/h2>\n<p><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  class=\"size-large wp-image-7323 aligncenter pk-lazyload\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"becoming-an-it-manager\"  width=\"1024\"  height=\"682\"  title=\"\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-ls-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/becoming-an-it-manager-1024x682.jpg\"  data-pk-srcset=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/becoming-an-it-manager-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/becoming-an-it-manager-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/becoming-an-it-manager-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/becoming-an-it-manager-391x260.jpg 391w, https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/becoming-an-it-manager-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/becoming-an-it-manager.jpg 1280w\" ><\/p>\n<p>Becoming an IT manager is not a day\u2019s worth of work. The process usually takes a good few years, during which you focus on getting the needed education and experience to take on such a role.<\/p>\n<p>The requirements for an IT management job change from company to company. However, here are a few general qualifications that every aspiring IT manager must have on their resume.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"it-manager-education-requirements\">IT manager education requirements<\/h3>\n<p>Apart from the experience that an IT manager is expected to have, having at least a <a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/program\/bs-in-information-technology\/\">Bachelor\u2019s Degree in IT<\/a> is usually a must. Having a well-rounded major, such as information technology, computer science, or management information systems, puts you ahead of the competition.<\/p>\n<p>Having a bachelor\u2019s degree and an extensive background in the field is sufficient to impress a hiring manager. However, many prefer candidates with graduate degrees, but that varies depending on the workplace.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"it-manager-skills\">IT manager skills<\/h3>\n<p>We mentioned before that an IT manager should possess soft and technical skills next to their education. So, which are these skills?<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few of them:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Communication skills\u2014they should be able to communicate effectively with the team, present their ideas, and communicate with other managers.<\/li>\n<li>Leadership skills\u2014influencing, building relationships, and mentoring are all a big part of being an IT manager, which is why leadership skills are important for the job.<\/li>\n<li>Critical thinking\u2014the job requires someone who understands business functions, strategy, workflow, and decision making.<\/li>\n<li>Problem-solving skills\u2014managing conflicts, risks, costs, time, and forecasting require someone who is good at fixing problems quickly.<\/li>\n<li>Software proficiency\u2014having software knowledge comes in handy with most jobs and in IT it\u2019s a necessity.<\/li>\n<li>Project management\u2014it goes without say that project management skills will be of help with team management for an IT manager.<\/li>\n<li>Programming languages\u2014knowledge of programming languages can go a long way with any jobs that revolve around technology.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"being-an-it-manager\">Being an IT Manager<\/h2>\n<p><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  class=\"size-large wp-image-7321 aligncenter pk-lazyload\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"how-to-become-an-IT-manager\"  width=\"1024\"  height=\"682\"  title=\"\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-ls-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/how-to-become-an-IT-manager-1024x682.jpg\"  data-pk-srcset=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/how-to-become-an-IT-manager-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/how-to-become-an-IT-manager-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/how-to-become-an-IT-manager-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/how-to-become-an-IT-manager-391x260.jpg 391w, https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/how-to-become-an-IT-manager-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/how-to-become-an-IT-manager.jpg 1280w\" ><\/p>\n<p>Being an IT manager is certainly not an easy job, but rewarding? It sure is\u2014especially when you\u2019ve worked so hard for it. IT management means planning, coordinating, and leading all computer-related activities of the company you work for.<\/p>\n<p>As an IT manager, you will help the company determine its IT needs and implement its computer systems in coordination with the company\u2019s requirements. Although these are the general requirements, an IT manager\u2019s duties vary based on the company\u2019s needs and managing system.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"job-responsibilities-of-an-it-manager\">Job responsibilities of an IT manager<\/h3>\n<p>Although the responsibilities and daily duties may change from job to job, here are a few things you can expect to be part of your job:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Designing workshops and training programs for the staff<\/li>\n<li>Running regular operation system reports and sharing them with senior management<\/li>\n<li>Managing and reporting the distribution of IT budget<\/li>\n<li>Developing and then implementing best practice guides and IT policy<\/li>\n<li>Running checks on network and data security regularly<\/li>\n<li>Overseeing and determining timeframes for major IT projects<\/li>\n<li>Identifying improvement opportunities and updating software and systems<\/li>\n<li>Acting as a leader for other IT members<\/li>\n<li>Conducting system audits regularly<\/li>\n<li>Working on team training and advancing their skills<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"salary-of-an-it-manager\">Salary of an IT manager<\/h3>\n<p>The salary of an IT manager is not a set number. The salary changes depending on what company you work for, what the position is, how much experience you have, among other factors. However, the average salary of an IT manager is around $132,375.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the average salaries of some common IT management positions.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Position<\/td>\n<td>Average salary<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Chief Information Officer (CIO)<\/td>\n<td>$170,500 &#8211; $287,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Chief Technology Officer (CTO)<\/td>\n<td>$145,000 &#8211; $248,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Chief Security Officer (CSO)<\/td>\n<td>$143,250 &#8211; $241,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Vice President of IT<\/td>\n<td>$137,000 &#8211; $231,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Technology Director<\/td>\n<td>$118,750 &#8211; $199,750<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>IT manager<\/td>\n<td>$105,750 &#8211; $159,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Information Security Manager<\/td>\n<td>$98,250 &#8211; $187,250<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Database Manager<\/td>\n<td>$95,250 &#8211; $179,750<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Network Manager<\/td>\n<td>$93,500 &#8211; $138,250<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Software Development Product Manager<\/td>\n<td>$92,500 &#8211; $155,750<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"it-manager-career-path\">IT Manager Career Path<\/h2>\n<p><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  class=\"size-large wp-image-7320 aligncenter pk-lazyload\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"IT-manager-career-path\"  width=\"1024\"  height=\"731\"  title=\"\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-ls-sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IT-manager-career-path-1024x731.jpg\"  data-pk-srcset=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IT-manager-career-path-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IT-manager-career-path-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IT-manager-career-path-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IT-manager-career-path.jpg 1280w\" ><\/p>\n<p>Every IT manager\u2019s career path is different, and most companies will look at someone\u2019s experience before deciding their position. However, there are many options for those just starting out in the IT field as well. There are many options that come with IT management. Here are some roles that you can take on during your IT management career path:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Program Manager<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Senior IT Project Manager<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Director of IT Services<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Vice President of IT<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Chief Information Officer (CIO)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Chief Technology Officer (CTO)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Chief Security Officer (CSO)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Becoming an IT manager requires a lot of hard work and dedication. However, if that\u2019s where your heart is, you will find that it\u2019s worth all the work. In addition, being in IT management comes with a great salary along with the responsibilities. You can take on the career path of your choice and have a lot of room for growth within the industry.<\/p>\n<p>If this article helped you understand you want to be an IT manager one day, you can start by applying for our <a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/program\/bs-in-information-technology\/\">Bachelor of Science in Information Technology program<\/a> or reaching out to us for further details!<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Information technology is an extensive field that covers many professions. In a day and age where computers are becoming a part of many jobs and our daily lives, it\u2019s easy&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":7322,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7319","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-information-technology"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7319","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7319"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7319\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20481,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7319\/revisions\/20481"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7319"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7319"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}