Short answer
- Education: IT managers “typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology, plus related work experience” (BLS). Some employers require or prefer a graduate degree such as an MBA.
- Experience: the BLS lists 5 years or more of work experience in a related occupation as typical.
- Certification is optional, according to the BLS, “although some employers prefer to hire candidates who have it.”
- Which certification fits: ITIL for service and operations management ($690 for the Foundation exam bundle in the US), PMP for project-heavy roles ($655, or $405 for PMI members), ISACA CGEIT for governance roles ($760, or $575 for members, plus $50).
- Pay: median $175,140 in May 2025, with 16% projected growth to 2035.
“IT manager” covers many jobs: the BLS occupation “computer and information systems managers” includes help desk managers, IT security managers, IT directors and chief technology officers. What they share is the path: a degree, several years in a technical IT job, then a move into managing people, budgets and services. This guide uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the requirements and the certification bodies for what each credential costs. We checked them on September 22, 2026.
The path, step by step
| Step | What the BLS or the issuer says | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bachelor’s degree | “typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology” | length of your degree program |
| 2. Technical IT job | “several years of experience in a related information technology (IT) job” | BLS Quick Facts: 5 years or more |
| 3. First lead or supervisor role | for example, leading a help desk team after working as a support specialist | varies by employer |
| 4. Optional: certification | chosen by the kind of IT manager you want to be (see below) | depends on the certification |
| 5. Optional: graduate degree | “Some organizations require or prefer” a graduate degree in computer science, IT or business administration | length of the program |
Source: BLS computer and information systems managers.
The BLS gives two examples of how the experience step works: “a help desk manager may need several years of experience as a computer support specialist, while an IT security manager may need to have worked as an information security analyst.” In other words, the experience usually comes from the kind of work the team you want to lead does.
Which certification fits which IT manager
Because certification is optional, the useful question is which one matches the job you want. Four directions and the certifications that match them:
| Your direction | Certification | Issuer | Cost | Experience required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT service and operations | ITIL Foundation (Version 5) | PeopleCert | $690 exam bundle (US) | none |
| Projects and delivery | PMP | PMI | $655, or $405 for PMI members | 36 to 60 months leading projects |
| Tech projects, entry level | CompTIA Project+ | CompTIA | price not confirmed | recommended 6 to 12 months of project experience |
| IT governance | CGEIT | ISACA | $760, or $575 for members, plus $50 application fee | 5 years of IT governance experience |
Sources: PeopleCert ITIL Foundation (Version 5), PMI PMP, CompTIA Project+, ISACA CGEIT, ISACA CGEIT requirements. ITIL price with PeopleCert’s store location set to the United States; PMP price as shown on PMI’s page on September 21, 2026.
ITIL: mind the version change
ITIL is a framework for IT service management. PeopleCert, which runs ITIL certification, released ITIL (Version 5) and plans “to sunset all ITIL 4 modules on 31 December 2027” (PeopleCert ITIL FAQ). ITIL certificates must be renewed every three years, and passing any ITIL (Version 5) exam also renews your ITIL 4 certificates.
If you’re starting now, take the Version 5 Foundation. If you already hold ITIL 4 Foundation, the Bridge exam ($263 in the US) moves you to Version 5 and renews your ITIL 4 certificates. Our ITIL 5 vs ITIL 4 guide compares the renewal routes.
PMP: for managers who run projects
If your IT management role is mostly projects (migrations, rollouts, implementations), the PMP is the certification to consider. It requires 36 months of experience leading projects with a bachelor’s degree, plus 35 hours of training. The full bill, including membership, retakes and renewal, is in our PMP cost guide.
CGEIT and Project+: two options at opposite ends
ISACA’s CGEIT targets people who already direct IT governance and asks for five years of that experience within the ten years before you apply. CompTIA Project+ is on the other end: CompTIA recommends 6 to 12 months of hands-on project experience, and it now has to be renewed every three years with 30 continuing education units and a $150 fee (CompTIA CE fees). We couldn’t confirm the current Project+ exam price on CompTIA’s site.
For a side-by-side view of exam fees and three-year costs across 44 certifications, see our Certification Cost Index.
Pay and job outlook
| BLS figure | Computer and information systems managers |
|---|---|
| Median annual pay, May 2025 | $175,140 |
| Typical entry-level education | bachelor’s degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | 5 years or more |
| Jobs, 2025 | 685,800 |
| Projected growth, 2025 to 2035 | 16% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | about 53,500 |
Source: BLS computer and information systems managers.
What the job involves
“Computer and information systems managers plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization,” the BLS summarizes. In practice that means three kinds of work:
- Operations: keeping systems, networks and services running, and handling incidents when they don’t.
- People: hiring, training and leading technical staff.
- Planning and budget: deciding which systems to buy, upgrade or retire, and working with vendors.
How much of each depends on the organization and the level of the role.
Frequently asked questions
How many years does it take to become an IT manager?
The BLS lists a bachelor’s degree plus 5 years or more of experience in a related IT job as typical. Its examples: a help desk manager may first work as a computer support specialist, an IT security manager as an information security analyst.
Can I become an IT manager without a degree?
The BLS says IT managers typically need a bachelor’s degree, and some employers require or prefer a graduate degree. Without a degree, expect to compete on experience and certifications.
Which certification should an IT manager get?
It depends on the role. ITIL fits service and operations management, the PMP fits project-heavy roles, and CGEIT fits governance roles. The BLS notes that certification is typically optional.
Is ITIL 4 still worth taking?
PeopleCert plans to retire all ITIL 4 modules on December 31, 2027. If you’re starting now, the ITIL (Version 5) Foundation is the better fit; ITIL 4 holders can move up with the $263 Bridge exam.
How much do IT managers make?
The BLS median for computer and information systems managers was $175,140 in May 2025.
How we checked these facts. Requirements, pay and outlook come from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (updated August 27, 2026); certification fees and rules from PeopleCert, PMI, CompTIA and ISACA, checked on September 21 and 22, 2026. Certificate Quest is not affiliated with any of these organizations and earns nothing from links on this page.