With organizations worldwide now dependent on technology for nearly every business function, the job market for tech workers couldn’t be hotter. Hiring activity in the tech sector hit a two-year high in October 2021, and competition is fierce among employers looking for the most qualified and educated professionals to fill their ranks.

For a prospective college student hoping to enter the tech sector, that’s good news. But as anyone who has upgraded their phone can tell you, what’s hot today can quickly become irrelevant tomorrow. In the tech industry, the Master of Science in Technology Management offers the ideal combination of business and technology skills to position you for bigger opportunities and information technology management jobs in the booming industry. If you’re asking yourself, “What can I do with a master’s in technology management?”, read on to discover what information technology management jobs you can get and what your career and salary outlook is after you graduate.

What Is a Master of Science in Technology Management?

The Master of Science in Technology Management helps you develop the managerial and decision-making skills needed to navigate the most complex IT environments, including the ever-evolving lineup of products and services that leading companies are using. Like an upgrade to your mobile device, a Master of Science in Technology Management is an upgrade that allows you to leverage the full potential of technology and organizational resources from a leadership position.

What Can I Do With a Master’s in Technology Management?

Considering the rush to hire tech workers, there are few limits to what you can do in the industry with your master’s in technology management. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the agency that tracks and analyzes employment data, employment in the computer and IT sectors is projected to grow 13% – faster than average – through the end of the decade. 

Among the fastest-growing positions for information technology management jobs: computer and information systems managers, also called information technology managers or information technology project managers. As the BLS explains, an IT manager is typically involved in:

  • Analyzing their organization’s computer needs and recommending possible upgrades for top executives to consider
  • Planning and directing the installation and maintenance of computer hardware and software
  • Ensuring the security of an organization’s network and electronic documents
  • Assessing the costs and benefits of new projects and justifying funding on projects to top executives
  • Learning about new technology and looking for ways to upgrade their organization’s computer systems
  • Determining short- and long-term personnel needs for their department
  • Planning and directing the work of other IT professionals, including computer systems analysts, software developers, information security analysts, and computer support specialists
  • Negotiating with vendors to get the highest level of service for the organization’s technology

Not only is the industry going to add 42,400 new IT managers (an 11% increase; faster than average) each year through the end of the decade, the master’s in technology management salary is keeping pace, with the median annual wage for IT managers in 2021 coming in at $159,010, according to the BLS. That’s higher than the median annual wage for all computer and IT occupations that same year: $97,430.

Numerous factors will drive the increase in hiring of IT managers, according to the BLS, including the continued expansion into digital platforms, the need to bolster cybersecurity, and an increase in cloud computing. The latter will “shift IT services from IT departments in noncomputer industries, such as financial firms or schools, to firms engaged in computer systems design and related services and those in data processing, hosting, and related services.”

Another leadership role you might consider with your master’s in technology management: operations manager (also called general manager). These leaders “plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public and private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations,” according to the BLS. The agency reports that the median annual wage for operations managers was $97,970 in May 2021.

Other roles that you will be ready for when you graduate with your master’s in technology management include:
 

  • Data Processing Manager
  • Engineering Manager
  • Information Systems Director
  • Information Systems Manager
  • Operations Director
  • Operations Manager
  • Production Manager
  • Information Technology Manager
  • Information Technology Project Manager

 

What Skills Will I Learn in a Master of Science in Technology Management Program?

You likely noticed most of the jobs you can get with a Master of Science in Technology Management all have “manager” or “director” in the title. That’s because a master’s in technology management is designed to strengthen your leadership skills and train you to get the most out of technology and the people who use it.

According to the BLS, today’s IT leaders need a combination of hard skills and leadership skills, including:

  • Analytical skills
  • Business skills
  • Communication skills
  • Decision-making skills
  • Leadership skills
  • Organizational skills 

A master’s in technology management degree program provides a balance between skills you’ll need when you’re in front of a computer screen or in front of a group of employees. After finishing your program at UAGC, you will know how to:

  • Assess business adaptations of information and technology to enhance the strategic competitive advantage of an organization
  • Identify, model, and promote the required management and leadership skills to succeed in a culture of innovation
  • Plan the implementation of technical projects while effectively utilizing human and financial resources to improve the operational efficiencies of an organization
  • Determine the appropriate technologies to enhance communication and collaboration within an organization
  • Analyze issues of ethical and social responsibility within an organization

With a toolbox of exceptional management skills, you’ll be prepared to take on a leadership role with your master’s degree, and you couldn’t have chosen a better time. The BLS projects that management occupations will grow 9% through 2030, adding about 906,800 new jobs. The median annual wage for management occupations was $102,450 in May 2021, according to the agency.

What Will My Master of Science in Technology Management Program Teach Me?

To achieve the right balance of business and technical expertise, the master’s in technology management covers topics that include: 

  •  Strategy
  • Governance
  • Organizational management
  • Project planning
  • Operations management
  • Procurement
  • Statistics
  • Financial accounting
  • Change management
  • Business ethics 

When considering which program to choose, you should look for a university that offers courses such as these offered at UAGC: 

Management Communications with Technology Tools
This course is designed to introduce you to graduate business programs, with emphases on conceptualizing communication and communication processes in the context of organizations, management, and careers. Emphasis will be on technology, theories and models, qualitative communication research, and presentations.


Management of Information Systems
This course introduces the fundamentals of computer systems, discusses the role of information processing in the business environment, and provides a basic overview of essential computer software. The course also provides an overview of systems development, operating systems and programming, database management, networking, and telecommunications — all from a management perspective.

Leadership in Business Systems Development
This course provides students with a foundation for applying appropriate techniques when managing software development projects. Focus is placed on managing Agile development projects and using Agile development methodologies. The importance of team management, changing goals and priorities, knowledge management ideals, and alignment with organizational goals is presented. Students complete a mock software development group project, through which they apply leadership principles. 

I’m Ready for My Master’s in Technology Management, Now What?

Even the most experienced workers often consider returning to school for an educational upgrade, so you’re not alone in considering a master’s in technology management to keep pace with the competition. 

According to Statista, the number of master’s degree recipients is projected to increase annually through at least 2028 – proof that an advanced education is seen as a tremendous advantage for those eyeing management roles in the future.

If you’re ready to build on your academic resume and prepare yourself to take the lead in one of today’s fastest-growing fields, contact an advisor about your Master of Science in Technology Management today.

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Written by University Staff

Certain degree programs may not be available in all states. 

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