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The differences between information technology systems directors and information technology technical leads 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 technical lead takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an information technology systems director has an average salary of $147,331, which is higher than the $110,879 average annual salary of an information technology technical lead.
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 technical lead are project management, architecture, and governance.
| Information Technology Systems Director | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $147,331 | $110,879 |
| Hourly rate | $70.83 | $53.31 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 146,989 | 156,246 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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 technology technical lead is responsible for assisting the technology team in solving system issues, designing new application systems, improving existing network infrastructure, and maintaining the safety and security of the organization's database. Information technology technical leads inspect the technology system's performance, recommending strategic solutions for optimization and smooth navigations for end-users. They also perform configurations and modifications, adhering to business requirements to support production operations. An information technology technical lead must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes to handle technical complexities for maximum efficiency.
Information technology systems directors and information technology technical leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Systems Director | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Average salary | $147,331 | $110,879 |
| Salary range | Between $103,000 And $209,000 | Between $84,000 And $146,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | |
| Best paying industry | - | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between an information technology systems director and an information technology technical lead in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Systems Director | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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 technical leads' demographics:
| Information Technology Systems Director | Information Technology Technical Lead | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.0% Female, 11.0% | Male, 75.9% Female, 24.1% |
| 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% |