How many years of experience do you need to become an IT manager?

You need about ten years of experience working as an IT support technician to become an IT manager. Most of these positions require a bachelor's degree at a minimum, and some expect a master's degree as well.

What are an IT manager's roles and responsibilities?

IT managers are responsible for coordinating, planning, and leading computer-related activities in an organization. They help determine the IT needs of an organization and are responsible for implementing computer systems to fulfill the organization's information systems requirements.

What does it take to be a senior manager?

To become a senior manager, a person needs to have a bachelor's degree in an appropriate field and demonstrate leadership skills within your industry. Typically, industry-focused degrees in business, communications, accounting, or finance are ideal for people seeking to become senior director managers.

What skills are needed to be an IT manager?

IT managers need to have both strong technical skills and business strategy skills. Most IT managers have hands-on experience with coding and using the same tools that the IT team uses. Even if the position calls for less technical work, the IT manager still needs to maintain their technical skills to help guide the team.

What is a senior information technology manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Matthew Liotine Ph.D.

A senior information technology manager oversees the IT department of an organization. They manage teams and projects related to hardware, software, and networks. Senior IT managers collaborate with executives to develop technology strategies to meet business goals. They ensure the security and integrity of the company's data and identify possible improvements. Senior IT managers use communication skills to explain technical concepts tol stakeholders. They may also contribute to budgeting and procurement for IT resources.

What general advice would you give to a senior information technology manager?

Matthew Liotine Ph.D.

Clinical Professor and Director of Master of Science in Supply Chain and Operations Management, University of Illinois at Chicago

Most employers tell me that soft skills are equally, if not more important, than technical skills or domain knowledge. This translates into external/internal customer-facing skills, such as communication, team collaboration, writing, presentation, problem-solving, and being resourceful. (Many graduates overlook writing as a vital skill, but they fail to realize that in the course of their jobs, they will likely be required to write lots of memos and tons of emails.) The need to perfect these skills within the confines of a virtual world has become even more challenging and amplified with COVID. I teach in the information systems discipline, and when you view student resumes, many people look the same on paper. The soft skills will make a candidate stand out head and shoulders above the rest. That's why the candidate should pay attention to the screening interviews that they will undergo during the hiring process since employers will use these interviews to vet these skills.

ScoreSenior Information Technology ManagerUS Average

Salary

8.5

Avg. Salary $133,138

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.6

Growth rate 16%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

1.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.21%

Asian 14.56%

Black or African American 6.55%

Hispanic or Latino 9.83%

Unknown 5.19%

White 63.68%

Gender

female 18.19%

male 81.81%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a senior information technology manager?

Pros

High salary
Leadership role
Opportunities for career advancement
Ability to implement innovative strategies
Work on projects with significant impact on the organization

Cons

Long hours and high stress levels
Pressure to meet deadlines and deliver results
Risk of burnout or health issues due to high workload
Potential for conflicts between different departments or teams
Need to continuously prove value and justify IT investments

Key steps to become a senior information technology manager

Explore senior information technology manager education requirements

Most common senior information technology manager degrees

Bachelor's

66.1 %

Master's

19.0 %

Associate

9.4 %

Start to develop specific senior information technology manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Project Management	9.02%
Cloud	7.66%
Architecture	6.17%
Customer Service	4.63%
SR	4.13%

Complete relevant senior information technology manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior information technology managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior information technology manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior information technology manager resumes.

Gain additional senior information technology manager certifications

Senior information technology manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific senior information technology manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for senior information technology managers include IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL) and Project Management Professional (PMP).

More About Certifications

Research senior information technology manager duties and responsibilities

Manage QA and set and ensure compliance with development standards.
Develop methodology and process to rationalize, evaluate, and manage global freight forwarders.
Manage a team that maintain, enhance, and support finance and payroll applications.
Lead brainstorming and prototyping with application teams on the edge of new technical capabilities (e.g.

Get senior information technology manager experience

Generally, it takes 6-8 years to become a senior information technology manager. The most common roles before becoming a senior information technology manager include information technology manager, information technology project manager team lead and senior project manager.

Prepare your senior information technology manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior information technology manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior information technology manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable senior information technology manager resume templates

Build a professional senior information technology manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior information technology manager resume.

Apply for senior information technology manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a senior information technology manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average senior information technology manager salary

The average senior information technology manager salary in the United States is $133,138 per year or $64 per hour. Senior information technology manager salaries range between $98,000 and $179,000 per year.

Average senior information technology manager salary

$133,138 Yearly

$64.01 hourly

How do senior information technology managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Senior information technology manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2024

Pros

It makes sense! Operations based.

Cons

Lifecycle is not flashy. Software is confusing.

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023

Pros

Lot's of things to implement, improve, new ways to work.

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2023

Pros

Staying abreast of technology and helping an organization define Technology strategy.

Cons

Work Life Balance can be difficult based on size of team and infrastructure.

What is a senior information technology manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a senior information technology manager?

What are the pros and cons of being a senior information technology manager?

Senior information technology manager career paths

Key steps to become a senior information technology manager

Explore senior information technology manager education requirements

Most common senior information technology manager degrees

Start to develop specific senior information technology manager skills

Complete relevant senior information technology manager training and internships

Gain additional senior information technology manager certifications

Research senior information technology manager duties and responsibilities

Get senior information technology manager experience

Prepare your senior information technology manager resume

Choose from 10+ customizable senior information technology manager resume templates

Apply for senior information technology manager jobs

How did you land your first senior information technology manager job

Average senior information technology manager salary

How do senior information technology managers rate their job?

Senior information technology manager reviews

Senior information technology manager FAQs

How many years of experience do you need to become an IT manager?

What are an IT manager's roles and responsibilities?

What does it take to be a senior manager?

What skills are needed to be an IT manager?

Search for senior information technology manager jobs

Senior information technology manager jobs by state