How To Become An Information Systems Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is an information systems manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Matthew Liotine Ph.D.,

Dr. Pauline Mosley

Most companies, from large retailers to educational institutions, rely on large, complicated Information Technology (IT) systems to do their work. Many hire information systems managers to run their IT department and make sure that they can rely on their computer systems.

Information systems managers are in charge of IT personnel and equipment. They supervise the work of IT analysts and other workers and assess their performance. They also assess the performance of IT equipment, run diagnostic tests to ensure that everything is working as it should, and procure new equipment. Information systems managers need to have extensive technical knowledge to handle tasks such as installing servers and configuring VPNs. They also need excellent communication skills to lead their department.

Most information systems managers start their careers by earning a bachelor's degree in business or computer science. They also need several years of professional experience working in IT, for example as IT analysts. There are several levels of information systems managers and compensation varies depending on one's position in the corporate ladder. The average salary is $131,092 a year.

What general advice would you give to an Information Systems 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.

ScoreInformation Systems ManagerUS Average

Salary

8.6

Avg. Salary $137,275

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 12.59%

Black or African American 6.81%

Hispanic or Latino 10.22%

Unknown 5.22%

White 64.96%

Gender

female 20.53%

male 79.47%

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

Newest jobs for Information Systems Manager in Columbus, OH

Receive alerts for the newest job postings.

Key steps to become an information systems manager

Explore information systems manager education requirements

Most common information systems manager degrees

Bachelor's

65.1 %

Associate

17.9 %

Master's

12.7 %

Start to develop specific information systems manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	17.43%
Project Management	8.54%
Data Entry	6.83%
Technical Support	3.52%
SQL Server	3.29%

Complete relevant information systems manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New information systems 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 an information systems manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real information systems manager resumes.

Gain additional information systems manager certifications

Information systems 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 information systems manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

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

More About Certifications

Research information systems manager duties and responsibilities

Manage the administration of the ERP system host on the cloud.
Integrate several off-the-shelf and SaaS systems to automate and streamline common transactions.
Manage process and provide a long-term roadmap from a PMO and technology perspective.
Manage all purchasing and approval of hardware/software for the facility including RFP's and RFI's.

Prepare your information systems manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your information systems 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 an information systems 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 Information Systems Manager Resume templates

Build a professional Information Systems 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 Information Systems Manager resume.

Apply for information systems manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an information systems 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 information systems manager salary

The average Information Systems Manager salary in the United States is $137,275 per year or $66 per hour. Information systems manager salaries range between $95,000 and $198,000 per year.

Average Information Systems Manager Salary

$137,275 Yearly

$66.00 hourly

How do information systems managers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Information Systems Manager reviews

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.

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019