Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between information technology managers and senior information technology specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become an information technology manager, becoming a senior information technology specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an information technology manager has an average salary of $119,589, which is higher than the $103,478 average annual salary of a senior information technology specialist.
The top three skills for an information technology manager include customer service, project management and database. The most important skills for a senior information technology specialist are customer service, database, and technical support.
| Information Technology Manager | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $119,589 | $103,478 |
| Hourly rate | $57.49 | $49.75 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 108,179 | 111,996 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 2 |
An information technology manager is responsible for supervising tasks for the company's network and information systems operations. Information technology managers require excellent knowledge of the information systems industry, a strong command of programming languages, and software and hardware application processes. An information technology manager reviews the performance of the IT department staff, ensuring that networks and systems maintain the highest quality and efficiency, and adjusting the specific system updates as needed. Information technology managers monitor the security of the system's database and identify business opportunities to utilize all business systems to improve the company's services.
A senior information technology specialist is responsible for handling technology systems and network issues, ensuring the efficiency and optimal performance of the database by configuration and improving network infrastructures. Senior information technology specialists also design computer systems and applications to support business functions and operations, depending on the requirements and budget limitations. They create resolution reports for reference and recommend strategic techniques to prevent the reoccurrence of defects and malfunctions. A senior information technology specialist must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in responding to the end-users' inquiries and concerns about the servers.
Information technology managers and senior information technology specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Manager | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average salary | $119,589 | $103,478 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $169,000 | Between $78,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between an information technology manager and a senior information technology specialist in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Manager | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between information technology managers' and senior information technology specialists' demographics:
| Information Technology Manager | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.5% Female, 15.5% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 12.7% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 14.1% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |