What are the salary and benefits expectations for IT managers in different sectors and regions?

Two major factors that influence renumeration of IT Managers in my experience are: -The nature/genre of the industry - The management structure or ownership. By nature of industry, oil and gas typically allocates higher salaries than say retail or manufacturing because of large available budgets associated with primary commodity extraction. Management structure of ownership is a factor in that, director/owner led companies tend to have renumeration levels, set on the perception and experience of one or two principals in a company. Their level of knowledge, value of and understanding of IT, guides their renumeration standards. Board run companies, partnerships and collective management type businesses aren't subject to industry opinion.

As an IT professional in the non-profit sector (education and religious organizations), the compensation tends toward the lower end of the scale for the industry. Over the past year or two I have seen a growing reliance on, and recognition of, the role that technology plays in the organizational goals and day-to-day operations. This increased dependence on technology across multiple functions and strategic initiatives has increased demand, particularly in this sector, where comparable organizations historically have put low value and investment in IT infrastructure and staffing. Among my peers, there is a growing discussion on attracting and retaining qualified individuals; the need for competitive salaries identified as a key element.

It's high time that we start thinking of Managerial positions as a career path and not mere promotions. While some are born to be managers, others can just be good at a thing or two individually but aren't clearly a cut for managing others.

In the Philippine market, IT managers' salaries and benefits vary by sector, with technology-centric fields like software development, finance, and healthcare offering higher pay due to their heavy reliance on tech. Conversely, sectors such as education and retail generally offer lower compensation. Despite this, the dynamic IT landscape in the Philippines presents opportunities for professionals to negotiate better terms by highlighting their impact on business efficiency and digital transformation. The growing trend of remote work and international demand for IT skills also allow IT managers to potentially increase their earnings, regardless of their industry.

Algunos sectores de la industria tienen mejores rangos salariales para un IT Manager: sectores como el financiero, telecomunicaciones y retail pueden tener, aparte del salario base, bonos, beneficios y compensaciones que no se encuentran en otras industrias. Aunque las oportunidades y ofertas son pocas en esto sectores, para aquellos IT Managers preparados académica y profesionalmente, pueden llegar a abrirse opciones de cambio y crecimiento laboral.

Region is still a thing, cost of living is a big factor. Remote work I believe will change these dynamics for non physical jobs. I’ve seen States here in the US pass laws where they post the actual salary for a job and you get paid that no matter where you work from ( onprem / remote ).

United Kingdom ? Average Salary: IT managers in the UK earn between ￡60,000 to ￡100,000. London and the South East offer higher salaries compared to other regions due to the higher cost of living and demand for tech professionals. ? Benefits: UK benefits often include private healthcare, pension schemes, annual bonuses, flexible working hours, and additional leave for professional development

United States ? Average Salary: IT managers in the U.S. typically earn between $100,000 to $150,000 annually, depending on experience and location. In major tech hubs like San Francisco and New York, salaries tend to be on the higher end of this range. ? Benefits: Common benefits include health insurance, retirement plans, bonuses, stock options, and professional development opportunities

IMO, an IT Manager does NOT need a degree. You do not learn how to interact with people in other departments (that don’t understand IT). That type of interaction is taught via experience. Managing people is something you have in your DNA or don’t. Schooling will give people a degree, but they have no idea how to actually manage an IT team and how to work with the employee’s career paths in mind - again taught with experience. The self taught manager has real world experiences that pay off MUCH quicker in real world business. Certifications are helpful, as they usually test more real-world like interactions.

Management doesn’t always need to have a degree. But with leadership it’s important to have the skills, no matter how you earned it. A former professor who taught leadership once told me: “Studying leadership doesn’t make you into a leader by itself. But it gives you the ability to understand what is going on around you, enabling yourself to make the right decisions.” So it’s up to you, how you define yourself in the practice of leadership. I myself see leadership as my profession, IT as my environment. That makes a difference in what background you need. The choice is yours.

An ideal IT Manager should have Bachelor or Master degree in Information Technology or Computer science. However i have seen many potential IT managers from cross functional qualification with proven expertise. One or two basic certifications in System administration, Network operations or project management is a must to have (Ex: Comptia Network +, Comptia Project +, CCNA, Azure administrator etc.,). Advanced certifications in specialized areas and trending technologies such as Cybersecurity, Cloud and Generative AI will help in excel career as well as to meet organizational needs and vision. Various other Industry or domain specific certifications and courses will also help to stay more secure in the competitive Job market.

IT managers tend to come from the bottom of IT and moving up in the chain which has the experience to manage. Jack of all trades and master of none. From help desk support to managing a team, all though education is always handy, experience would be the preferred options as it shows situation awareness. And as always it's about how to communicate more than technical knowledge.

In the world of IT management, it's not just about drowning in certifications or having encyclopedic tech knowledge. Being a successful IT manager is more about having a vision, anticipating future trends, and being a pro at managing people, making them believing in themself and their potentiality, getting them respected and organized. The key is not just technical know-how but also the ability to lead, bring teams together, and encourage collaboration. While tech skills matter, being a great manager is about more than just ticking off a checklist of qualifications. It's about being able to inspire and lead teams in the ever-changing landscape of the digital age. totally agree with @randall and @thomas

The higher the responsibility you have as an IT manager the higher the pay. Skills and relevant experience matters more than certifications and degrees. A great IT manager has a good blend of both technical and people skills. Not only they need to motivate and drive their teams to deliver but they also need to lead by example and get their hands dirty. Just like any other IT role managers need to stay updated on the latest technologies and trends and continue learning new skills that are relevant for their role.

I may be of an old school mindset here: A candidate can have every certification under the sun but those certifications will never replace real world experience. More often "by the book" is not the best solution. Every workplace and situation is different.

In IT Management you learn different skills and experience depending on the organization's size and the IT team. It's a different situation when you manage IT for 100 users with the IT Team of 2 or 3 specialists compared to working in an IT team of 50 or even 100+ members in 5000+ employees organization. Managing large team and sophisticated technology demands a different kind of skills than working on few servers with 2 or 3 of your colleagues. Your earnings and benefits will vary depending on the size of the organization you work in. Bigger organizations have bigger potential in terms of earnings.

Proficiency is of primary importance not only in your current role but in seeking to advance. Always be better than what is expected. I believe this, above all else, leads to success. In addition to proficiency, you have to be able to ask for what you want and clearly explain your proficiency to those that may not be deeply knowledgeable about your field. This can be done with project examples, cost savings, etc. Combining the above and having a direct conversation with the proper individuals in your organization should lead to the advancement you seek.

Having a differentiating factor makes an IT Manager have more value in the current job market: - certifications in new technologies - strong knowledge in digital transformation - experience in enterprise architectures - a solid foundation in financial management - strengths in operational efficiency (capex and Opex)

Salary and benefits are sometimes not dependent on scope of work and experience; it can also depend on how the organization structures its remuneration. The same responsibilities could enjoy more benefits at another organization, also dependent on the value that's placed on the role. It then becomes important to understand more about the value the organization places on the role, expectations and responsibilities.

IT manager role is an excellent place to earn good money. But it's not for everyone. The biggest benefits of being an IT manager, besides earnings, are fulfillment and a sense of purpose. In this role, you are exposed to many people and diverse aspects of technology. Putting both of these worlds together is immensely satisfying. As an IT manager, you can also provide great value on a large scale. Your one project can impact several thousands of people, hopefully making their work and their life easier, safer, or in a different way better. That's indeed a significant benefit of being an IT manager, worth considering when you plan your IT career.

In various sectors and regions, the salary and benefits expectations for IT managers can vary. However, the true value of an IT manager lies not solely in technical expertise, but in their ability to drive meaningful transformation. As IT becomes more outsourced, impactful managers transcend industry and location. They align technology with company vision, stay current, and shape strategy. Their contributions are vital, making them indispensable assets irrespective of sector or region.

Project managemen skill, but not just having a PMP certificate. "What Project/Program Manager do is imbeded in the strategy." -- Michael Porter

In my experience, developing in one company from a technical position to a managerial position usually leads to a lower salary when compared to market rates. The finance sector does put more value on the ability to manage teams and coordinate deliverables, whereas more technical sectors value managers with overall knowledge of the areas their teams are responsible for. High level knowledge of what your teams do and the ability to be hands on, does not correlate therefore, unfortunately, with the remuneration received.