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The differences between information technology systems directors and senior information technology managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both an information technology systems director and a senior information technology manager. Additionally, an information technology systems director has an average salary of $147,331, which is higher than the $133,138 average annual salary of a senior information technology manager.
The top three skills for an information technology systems director include project management, architecture and network infrastructure. The most important skills for a senior information technology manager are project management, cloud, and architecture.
| Information Technology Systems Director | Senior Information Technology Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $147,331 | $133,138 |
| Hourly rate | $70.83 | $64.01 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 146,989 | 187,930 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
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.
A senior information technology manager is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and performance of the company's technology and network systems. Senior information technology managers oversee technology infrastructures and operations, ensuring the processes adhere to the company policies and regulations. They analyze the schematics and specifications of computer systems, maintaining the safety and security across all networks to prevent unauthorized access. A senior information technology manager must have extensive knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command of programming languages.
Information technology systems directors and senior information technology managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Systems Director | Senior Information Technology Manager | |
| Average salary | $147,331 | $133,138 |
| Salary range | Between $103,000 And $209,000 | Between $98,000 And $179,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Netflix | |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between an information technology systems director and a senior information technology manager in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Systems Director | Senior Information Technology Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between information technology systems directors' and senior information technology managers' demographics:
| Information Technology Systems Director | Senior Information Technology Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.0% Female, 11.0% | Male, 81.8% Female, 18.2% |
| 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, 6.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 14.6% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |