InformationWeek 2016 Salary Survey: 10 Best-Paying IT Leadership Jobs
In 2016, median base salary for IT management professionals -- including CIOs, CTOs, and VPs -- is $112,000 annually, and has remained flat in the past 12 months. Of course, certain management roles are commanding a much higher compensation package than the median, and we're highlighting 10 of them here. See how your compensation stacks up.
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The average IT management professional has been in the business for 20 years and at his current company for nine years, feels intellectually challenged by his work, and is generally secure in his current role. And, yes, he is most likely male. This is the profile we can draw from the results of the InformationWeek 2016 US IT Salary Survey.
In 2016, median base salary for IT management professionals -- including CIOs, CTOs, and VPs -- is $112,000 annually, and has remained flat in the past 12 months. Median total compensation (including any bonuses and other direct cash payments) for 2016 is $121,000 -- also flat year-on-year.
Of course, certain roles are commanding a much higher salary than the median, and we're highlighting 10 of them here. Some, like CIO and CTO, are obvious, while others -- including program manager and security roles -- may surprise you.
But first, let's talk about how we arrived at this information. The compensation data presented here is drawn from information provided by 1,390 IT managers. In addition to IT managers, 1,535 US IT staffers responded to our survey. In total, we received 450 survey responses from women in IT staff or management roles, and 2,475 responses from men in IT staff or management roles.
[How do you keep your best workers happy? Read 5 IT Talent, Staffing Fails to Avoid.]
For the purposes of this article, we're focusing on responses received from IT managers. For a look at the top-paying IT staff positions, click here.
Beyond the standard benefits, such as company-paid health insurance and 401(k) match, IT management professionals get little in the way of on-the-job perks. More than half of respondents (53%) said they expect to receive a company-paid smartphone this year. That's where the corporate largesse ends for most respondents.
When asked what types of noncash and indirect cash rewards they expect to receive in the next 12 months, 28% said they expect further education or training, and 28% expect tuition reimbursement. Only 4% said they expect day care or day care subsidies, and 6% said they expect a sabbatical or extended vacation. (Multiple responses to this question were allowed.)
When asked if they feel intellectually challenged by their work, 40% of respondents said yes, while another 50% said they felt "somewhat challenged." Only 10% of respondents described their jobs as "not at all challenging."
When it comes to job security, 51% of respondents said they feel "very secure" in their current job, while 41% said they feel "somewhat secure." Only 8% of respondents said they felt insecure in their current job.
When asked to identify the business and technical skills most critical to their jobs, the following five were most cited (multiple responses to this question were allowed):
Aligning business and technology goals (82% of respondents)
Collaborating with internal stakeholders (68% of respondents)
Analyzing data (61% of respondents)
Building vendor relationships (59% of respondents)
Experimenting with cutting-edge technology (57% of respondents)
Yet, we see a disconnect in the type of training IT management professionals most want when juxtaposed against the critical skills highlighted above. When asked, "What type of training would you find most valuable to you in developing your career?" 56% of respondents cited technology-specific training, and 35% cited certification courses.
Only 18% of respondents cited each of the following: project-management training, business-skills training, and people-management training. (Multiple responses to the question were allowed.)
Read on to find out which 10 IT management positions received the highest median total compensation in 2016. Once you've reviewed our list, share your own experiences with us in the comments section below.
Are you working in one of these management positions now? Are you looking for career advancement from your current staff or lower-level management position? What's your IT employment outlook for 2017?
2016 median annual compensation: $137,500
Job description: The Houston Chronicle's Work section describes the role like so: "A CSO is the executive whose ultimate role is to ensure that an organization's security function adds value and gives it a competitive advantage. A major part of a CSO's role within an organization is to help forge strong and secure connections between departments. For example, when corporate departments worry less about security vulnerabilities all around them, they may operate more smoothly with each other. A CSO who can reduce friction between departments thus adds value to an organization."
2016 median annual compensation: $126,000
Job description: According to job search website Career Builder, IT directors oversee information technology infrastructure, activities, and equipment for an organization. They also supervise staff and manage departmental and organizational goals. A typical day in the life of an IT director might include: analyzing organizational needs and recommending plans for equipment and networks, assessing network and electronic security and overseeing upgrades as necessary, and overseeing the work of IT professionals, such as network engineers, software developers, information security analysts, and computer support specialists."
2016 median annual compensation: $125,700
Job description: According to careers website PayScale, "[The] senior IT manager is usually in charge of a group of employees in the field. Employees in this position are responsible for working with computer and technological problems in offices, and are expected to keep the technological aspect and tools of the company running smoothly so that employees in different areas can do their jobs as efficiently as possible. Senior IT managers need to know how to operate most of the programs that the organization uses. They must also be very good problem solvers, as the job consists of a lot of fixing and solving of technology-related problems. Because it is a management position, the senior IT manager should be able to keep a team focused and motivated. This position works with other members of the IT department, so communication skills are a must."
2016 median annual compensation: $123,000
Job description: Careers website PayScale describes the role like so: "An information technology (IT) program manager is an administrative position for a company with an IT department. This position incorporates elements of managerial work and technical skill, with the manager directing a team of IT specialists. A typical day for an IT program manager includes meetings with subordinates, general oversight of the IT workspace, and collaboration with other departments. Because of the nature of the department and the type of tasks that are performed, the IT program manager must have an understanding of information technology and computer science. The IT program manager must also be well versed in management techniques and must have charisma, communication skills, and leadership ability."
2016 median annual compensation: $104,500
Job description: According to careers website PayScale, "Project managers in information technology (IT) are tasked with planning certain types of projects within a company and ensuring that they are executed and on-track through every stage of the process. This job may require daily evaluations of employees, as well as leadership and motivation, in order to achieve particular goals. IT project managers must ensure that employees have the same shared vision and goals for projects while being assigned specific duties. Problem-solving may be necessary when projects are not going as planned, and they are usually given budgets for projects and must ensure that all parties involved are adhering to financial limits. These project managers oversee projects until they are finished, and evaluate them to determine whether follow-up projects are necessary and what changes can be made for the future. This job may also involve overseeing various personnel and departments to ensure their collaboration."
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