IT Management: The High-Growth, High-Pay Career Path Defying the Entry-Level Job Slump

The IT Career Landscape: A Tale of Two Paths

Historically, careers in information technology have held great promise, offering many opportunities for advancement and above-average pay. Median IT salaries in the U.S. are significantly higher than the median for all U.S. jobs, and between 2024-2034, IT employment growth is expected to outpace growth for all jobs by 3x. Additionally, organizations are ~5x as likely to plan to increase the size of their IT department as decrease in 2026.

With a wide variety of specializations and titles to choose from (including IT manager, network admin, cybersecurity analyst, software developer, and more), IT professionals can pursue a tech career path that suits their unique interests and skills.

But some IT career paths offer more opportunities and are more financially rewarding than others. While it’s harder to land an entry-level IT job than in the past—the total number of IT support specialist jobs is expected to contract over the next 10 years—the grass is much greener if you’re able to secure an IT management position.

IT Manager Jobs: High Growth and High Salaries

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer and information systems managers, A.K.A. IT managers, “plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization.” In other words, IT managers are responsible for keeping critical IT systems running smoothly in a business world where computer systems serve as the backbone of our digital economy. And IT managers are rewarded handsomely for their valuable contributions.

The BLS reports that in 2024, the median salary for computer and information systems managers was $171,200, or 3.5x the median wage for all jobs.

Historically, the IT management field has experienced rapid growth—the number of total U.S. positions more than doubled between 2008 and 2024—and the good times are likely to continue.

Unlike in other IT occupations, where the total number of jobs has leveled off in recent years, the growth path for IT managers has consistently been “up and to the right” since the BLS started tracking employment data in 2008.

The BLS predicts that over the next 10 years, the total number of IT managers employed will grow by more than 15%, which is 5x faster than the average for all jobs. In absolute terms, estimates call for more than 100K new U.S.-based IT management positions to be added between 2024 and 2034.

Why Is the Future Bright for IT Managers?

While demand for entry-level IT positions is expected to contract due to automation replacing some tasks, the BLS believes that the business world’s growing dependence on computer technology will offer job security for IT managers in the future: “Demand for computer and information systems managers is projected to grow as organizations increasingly rely on information technology (IT) services and require these workers to plan and oversee computer hardware and software needs.”

And instead of AI automating away tasks involved in IT management, the BLS expects that the increased adoption and usage of the technology will actually increase the need for leaders who understand how to implement and get the most out of potentially complex, overlapping, and nuanced systems: “Employment growth is expected to result from the increased complexity and necessity of technology throughout the economy. As businesses across industries ramp up their IT infrastructure, such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI), computer and information systems managers will likely be critical to ensuring solid IT implementation.”

Additionally, because technology plays a big role in enabling business success and enhancing efficiencies, and IT managers tend to work with business leadership, the role is “closer to the money” than others in IT.

How Do You Become an IT Manager?

Because IT managers are expected to understand the needs of an IT department—including technology, personnel, and processes—the role tends to require years of experience to gain a firm grasp in each of these areas.

And unlike some technical roles, it’s very important for people-facing IT managers to hone their soft skills, such as communication, public speaking, working with teams, and more.

But with great opportunity comes great responsibility. Even if you have the prerequisite skill set, before you chase the potential for job security and high pay, you should decide whether the role of IT manager is right for you.

Perhaps the following IT career advice from Spiceworks Community member, Shane Ingram A.K.A. Captain Frostbyte sums it up best: “IT management isn’t for everyone, being a good tech doesn’t mean you’ll be a good manager. As a manager, you need a whole new set of skills, and to be honest, many aren’t skills you’ll learn in a class. You’ll need soft skills like communication to manage a team of workers, as well as managing the expectations of the people you report to. You’ll need to be able to wrap your head around budgets, value, ROI, initial cost, cost over time, opportunity cost, etc. In other words, you’ll need to be able to speak and act intelligently on how, when, and why money is spent in tech.”