IT Exec Salaries Vary Greatly Depending on Chain of Command

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Whether an IT executive reports to a CEO or a CIO can mean the difference between tens of thousands of dollars in annual salary, a new study shows.

New data from the CIO/IT Strategy Media Group IT salary and career survey revealed thatsenior IT executives reporting to the CEO earned an average yearly compensation of $202,608, while executives reporting to the CIO made an average of $40,000 less.

Regardless of whom they report to, the study shows the average IT executive experienced a decline in total compensation in 2011. The total 2011 compensation for an average senior or midlevel IT executive was $157,482, a $3,000 decline from 2010. The research shows IT leaders at enterprise organizations reported an average 11 percent higher compensation than their midmarket and small-business counterparts.

According to the study, the average base salaries by position:

• Senior IT executive (CIO/CTO/CISO, vice president of IT):$163,571
• Consultant:$161,000
• Midlevel IT executive, director level:$132,006
• IT manager with one or more direct reports:$105,811
• IT staff member:$91,512

Despite more than 60 percent of IT leaders receiving salary increases last year, the study shows they still want more — and almost half of those surveyed who took on new jobs in 2011said they did so in pursuit of more money.

Overall, just nearly 40 percent of those surveyed said they were at least somewhat dissatisfied with their current compensation levels.

That displeasure has led a number of IT executives to look down on their employer's future. Of those surveyed, 30 percent admitted they were pessimistic.

The annual CIO/IT Strategy Media Group IT salary and career study is based on surveys of more than 500 IT executives representing all industries across the United States.

Chad Brooks is a Chicago-based freelance writer who spent 10 years as a newspaper reporter before working in public relations. You can reach him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @cbrooks76.