The 10 highest-paid IT job titles

The information technology sector still commands high salaries in many leadership positions, with the opportunity to boost compensation even further with bonuses. That’s the latest from Computerworld’s IT Salary Survey 2015, which looked at compensation for IT positions from entry-level all the way up to the C-suite.

Here are the 10 highest-paid IT job titles by average salary alone.

CIO/VP of IT, $146,648

Chief information officers and vice presidents of information technology oversee a company’s strategic IT efforts and finds ways for IT to support overarching business goals. People in this position may oversee internal IT operations and focus on internal customers.

People in C-level positions at tech companies must be able to motivate a wide variety of people effectively, says Christy Brandt, chief product officer at Predpol. In addition, they must be able to make hard calls on company priorities, create buy-in for new initiatives, and think strategically about the market and solutions.

Finally, C-level employees need to be able to build great teams, Brandt says. “This means assess people, help people grow, figure out the best way to organize folks so they can get out of their own way, and the ability to hire or draw in top talent to your organization.”

Director/VP of systems development, $144,512

People in this position oversee technology systems across the organization and develop strategies to ensure they work well together. VPs of systems development provide leadership on corporate IT systems and often report directly to a company president or CEO.

Chief security officer, $144,493

As cyber risks become more prevalent, chief security officers focus on keeping a company’s data and networks secure. They work with others in the company to guard the organization’s databases, networks, systems and other technology. For example, chief security officers may provide insight into how feasible a BYOD policy would be for a company.

Chief technology officer, $137,623

A chief technology officer may look at tech strategies that enhance the company’s product or service. People in this position may oversee an engineering division or department, and they are more likely to focus on external than internal customers.

Nicholas Doucette is vice president of technology — a role similar to a CTO — at Zeeto, and is in charge of scaling up the company’s technology and running a 20-person development staff. He oversees all software development and technology across multiple departments to continue building the company’s lead generation and delivery platform.

Internet technology architect/strategist, $130,813

Internet and technology architects and strategists use their strong software backgrounds to develop software solutions such as cloud computing technologies for internal or external customers. Depending on the employer, they may also work on e-commerce initiatives.

Enterprise architect $121,513

People who work as enterprise architects often oversee the IT networks and services a business uses. They may go over hardware and software needs and provide reports about the organization’s scalability and security needs.

App development manager 112,580

Application development managers may oversee Web or software developers as they develop new Web and mobile apps. They may also upgrade or maintain existing apps, and work with other departments on tech needs.

Systems architect, $111,626

People who work as systems architects may install hardware or software as they design, build and maintain computer networks. Training starts with an associate’s degree, although employers often expect at least a bachelor’s degree or substantial experience.

Network architect, $111,598

Network architects design, test and maintain an organization’s local area networks and wide area networks. They may also do work on intranets and other communications systems. Some network architects are also involved with installing computer hardware.

Information security manager, $111,266

People in this position focus on information risk management. Information security managers develop and oversee an organization’s information security and may establish best practices, too.