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What is a vice president of information technology and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted expert
Matthew Liotine Ph.D.
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A vice president of information technology is an individual who oversees the technology strategy and operations for an organization. They manage a team of professionals responsible for implementing and maintaining the company's technology infrastructure, including hardware, software, and network systems. They must be knowledgeable about emerging technologies and trends, and be able to make informed decisions about new technologies. They play a key role in ensuring the security and privacy of company data and systems.

What general advice would you give to a vice president of information technology?

Matthew Liotine Ph.D.Matthew Liotine Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

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.
ScoreVice President Of Information TechnologyUS Average
Salary
9.2

Avg. Salary $160,600

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 12.57%

Black or African American 6.83%

Hispanic or Latino 10.26%

Unknown 5.22%

White 64.91%

Gender

female 15.07%

male 84.93%

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 vice president of information technology?

Pros

  • High salary and benefits

  • Access to cutting-edge technology and resources

  • Opportunities for career growth and advancement

  • Ability to lead and manage a team of IT professionals

  • Opportunity to shape the company's technology strategy

Cons

  • High pressure and long hours

  • Constant need to stay up-to-date with new technologies and trends

  • Heavy responsibility for ensuring data security and privacy

  • Difficulties balancing technical expertise with business strategy

  • Potential for conflict with other departments over budget and resource allocation

Vice president of information technology career paths

Key steps to become a vice president of information technology

  1. Explore vice president of information technology education requirements

    Most common vice president of information technology degrees

    Bachelor's

    71.6 %

    Master's

    17.9 %

    Associate

    7.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific vice president of information technology skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Management5.98%
    Architecture5.27%
    Cloud4.60%
    Customer Service4.28%
    Network Infrastructure4.20%
  3. Complete relevant vice president of information technology training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New vice president of information technologies 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 vice president of information technology based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real vice president of information technology resumes.
  4. Gain additional vice president of information technology certifications

    Vice president of information technology 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 vice president of information technology certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for vice president of information technologies include IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL) and Project Management Professional (PMP).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research vice president of information technology duties and responsibilities

    • Manage Cisco switches and firewalls.
    • Manage successful VOIP migration from PBX system.
    • Lead team to upgrade and enhance company intranet.
    • Manage exempt and non-exempt corporate payroll using ADP.
  6. Get vice president of information technology experience

    Generally, it takes 6-8 years to become a vice president of information technology. The most common roles before becoming a vice president of information technology include information technology director, information technology manager team lead and vice president.
  7. Prepare your vice president of information technology resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your vice president of information technology 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 vice president of information technology resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable vice president of information technology resume templates

    Build a professional vice president of information technology 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 vice president of information technology resume.
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    Vice President Of Information Technology Resume
    Vice President Of Information Technology Resume
  8. Apply for vice president of information technology jobs

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

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

How did you land your first vice president of information technology job

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Average vice president of information technology salary

The average vice president of information technology salary in the United States is $160,600 per year or $77 per hour. Vice president of information technology salaries range between $110,000 and $232,000 per year.

Average vice president of information technology salary
$160,600 Yearly
$77.21 hourly

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Vice president of information technology reviews

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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.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2022
Cons

If company is not supportive of new technology advancement.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022
Cons

I am responsible for everything be it any side of the business


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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