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The differences between information technology systems directors and information technology consultants 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 technology consultant takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an information technology systems director has an average salary of $147,331, which is higher than the $84,790 average annual salary of an information technology consultant.
The top three skills for an information technology systems director include project management, architecture and network infrastructure. The most important skills for an information technology consultant are customer service, database, and project management.
| Information Technology Systems Director | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $147,331 | $84,790 |
| Hourly rate | $70.83 | $40.76 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 146,989 | 142,475 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| 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 Technology Consultant, also known as IT Consultant, is responsible for sharing extensive knowledge of Information Technology by providing suggestions and solving issues within the company. Among the duties include installing and maintaining the necessary software and hardware, designing new procedures, overseeing all implementations, and ensuring that all systems are running smoothly, employing methods to secure databases, and providing essential instructions when needed. Furthermore, an Information Technology Consultant needs to coordinate and report to management or supervisors at all times.
Information technology systems directors and information technology consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Systems Director | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Average salary | $147,331 | $84,790 |
| Salary range | Between $103,000 And $209,000 | Between $62,000 And $115,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | California Resources | |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between an information technology systems director and an information technology consultant in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Systems Director | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between information technology systems directors' and information technology consultants' demographics:
| Information Technology Systems Director | Information Technology Consultant | |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.0% Female, 11.0% | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% |
| 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, 10.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.5% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |