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The differences between information technology systems directors and information systems technicians 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 systems director, becoming an information systems technician takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an information technology systems director has an average salary of $147,331, which is higher than the $46,346 average annual salary of an information systems technician.
The top three skills for an information technology systems director include project management, architecture and network infrastructure. The most important skills for an information systems technician are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Information Technology Systems Director | Information Systems Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $147,331 | $46,346 |
| Hourly rate | $70.83 | $22.28 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 146,989 | 173,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
Generally, an information technology systems director is responsible for the management, organization, and execution of IT operations. They oversee technical projects and IT infrastructure, manage a team of employees in the IT department, direct the effective delivery of networks in alignment with the organization's goals, and tracking technology. Their objective is to ensure that security risks are minimized, business goals are met, and user satisfaction is achieved.
An information systems technician is responsible for maintaining the efficiency of various network systems' performance. Information systems technicians provide network troubleshooting, upgrading systems for optimization, maintaining the security of databases, managing the interaction of networks, and inspecting and troubleshooting system inconsistencies. Additional duties include creating network designs based on clients' specifications, configuring software and hardware applications, and creating reports on system issues and resolutions. An information systems technician must have excellent knowledge of information systems procedures, programming languages, detecting malfunctions, and making resolutions promptly.
Information technology systems directors and information systems technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Systems Director | Information Systems Technician | |
| Average salary | $147,331 | $46,346 |
| Salary range | Between $103,000 And $209,000 | Between $28,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Rahway, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett | |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between an information technology systems director and an information systems technician in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Systems Director | Information Systems Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between information technology systems directors' and information systems technicians' demographics:
| Information Technology Systems Director | Information Systems Technician | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.0% Female, 11.0% | Male, 73.6% Female, 26.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 12.7% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |