Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between chief technology officers and directors of software development can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a chief technology officer, becoming a director of software development takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a chief technology officer has an average salary of $172,989, which is higher than the $158,853 average annual salary of a director of software development.
The top three skills for a chief technology officer include infrastructure, cloud and architecture. The most important skills for a director of software development are java, software development, and cloud.
| Chief Technology Officer | Director Of Software Development | |
| Yearly salary | $172,989 | $158,853 |
| Hourly rate | $83.17 | $76.37 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 124,289 | 136,310 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 52 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | 8 |
The job of chief technology officers (CTOs) is to oversee the technological needs and research and development of an organization. The CTOs, who are like chief information officers, make decisions for a company's technology infrastructure that aligns with the organization's business goals. They must ensure that they are updated on new and existing technologies for them to guide the company's future endeavors. Other responsibilities include fixing issues related to information technology, developing and managing the company's technological resources, and participating in management decisions on corporate governance.
A director of software development is primarily in charge of overseeing the workflow and the workforce involved in the entire software development process. Their responsibilities also include creating strategies for optimal performance, coordinating with different teams and departments to identify strengths and weaknesses, implementing training and workshop programs, and liaising with external agencies, including key clients. Furthermore, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage the team to reach new heights.
Chief technology officers and directors of software development have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Technology Officer | Director Of Software Development | |
| Average salary | $172,989 | $158,853 |
| Salary range | Between $105,000 And $284,000 | Between $110,000 And $228,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | InPhonex | eBay |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Technology |
There are a few differences between a chief technology officer and a director of software development in terms of educational background:
| Chief Technology Officer | Director Of Software Development | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between chief technology officers' and directors of software development' demographics:
| Chief Technology Officer | Director Of Software Development | |
| Average age | 52 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.6% Female, 8.4% | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.7% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 15.1% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |