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The differences between directors, applications and information technology systems managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a director, applications and an information technology systems manager. Additionally, a director, applications has an average salary of $155,871, which is higher than the $130,526 average annual salary of an information technology systems manager.
The top three skills for a director, applications include cloud, project management and customer service. The most important skills for an information technology systems manager are customer service, project management, and network infrastructure.
| Director, Applications | Information Technology Systems Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $155,871 | $130,526 |
| Hourly rate | $74.94 | $62.75 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 75,822 | 156,656 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
An application director is responsible for designing and reviewing software applications to support business requirements and network solutions. Applications directors strategize efficient techniques in developing systems, assist the design teams, and conduct quality checks to the outputs to ensure its accuracy and adherence to guidelines and project procedures. They review applications request, manage and allocate budget and resources, and determine the timetable of deliverables. An application director must have excellent technical skills to support the team in resolving application discrepancy and analyzing technology standards.
An information technology systems manager is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and optimal performance of the organization's technology systems. Information technology systems managers ensure the safety and security of all the network systems, developing standard operating procedures to avoid unauthorized access and suspicious activities. They also identify technical opportunities to improve network infrastructures and technology solutions. An information technology systems manager must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes to design configuration and maintain the stability of systems.
Directors, applications and information technology systems managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director, Applications | Information Technology Systems Manager | |
| Average salary | $155,871 | $130,526 |
| Salary range | Between $120,000 And $200,000 | Between $95,000 And $178,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Okta | Southern California Edison |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a director, applications and an information technology systems manager in terms of educational background:
| Director, Applications | Information Technology Systems Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between directors, applications' and information technology systems managers' demographics:
| Director, Applications | Information Technology Systems Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4% | Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 12.6% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |