Chief Technology Officer Job Description - Salary, Education and Career Guide for Becoming a Chief Technology Officer

The title "chief technology officer" has a ring of espionage about it. Or perhaps it brings to mind a position in the armed forces. However, a chief technology officer, or CTO, has nothing to do with spying or the military - not usually, anyway. Chief technology officer jobs usually involve:

A CTO holds an executive position with expertise and influence in a company's scientific and technical matters. Read on for information on how to become a chief technology officer.

Chief technology officer is a recently created job title, reaching prominence along with dot-coms in the 1990s. Sometimes the person in the position is referred to as the chief technical officer instead. Either way, the CTO abbreviation is today as commonly heard as CIO (chief information officer) or CFO (chief financial officer), with as much importance in many companies' structures.

 

A CTO might report to the CIO, bringing new ideas about improving management, products or production. In other companies, the CIO might report to the CTO, or the CTO might report directly to the CEO.

 

The responsibilities that a chief technology officer performs often depend on the size of the company. In smaller, newer companies, a CTO might be expected to pitch in with a number of hands-on jobs, as is the case with most employees when tasks are many and workers are few. However, a huge company with many international operations might need its CTO to interact with organizations or with governments from other countries. Some CTOs help their companies choose which products to develop by tracking consumer and technological trends.

 

A CTO is an idea person who is willing to suggest and bring about change to create more efficient and effective practices in a company. A chief technology officer's job description is pretty fluid. It can mean different things to different companies, and can involve varying responsibilities even within a single company from year to year.

Chief technology officer salary is often above $100,000 annually. CTOs on the low end of the scale can make around $85,000, not including financial performance incentives and bonuses.

Chances of getting chief technology officer position increase by having a college degree related to information technology. CTOs also need several years of experience in managerial positions.

There is no single path to becoming a chief technology officer. Some people gain the title after holding the position in all but name for years. Others build up experience as software engineers, information-systems managers or in other positions in information technology. Since a CTO holds a senior position, it's unlikely that anyone with a low level of experience with management and technology would gain the title.

 

Experience in a particular company's field is desired, if not required. Demonstrated success within prior positions is a must as well.

Because a CTO holds one of the most senior executive roles in a company, few opportunities for advancement exist, other than moving into the CEO or CIO position. CTOs also have the option of moving to a bigger or more prestigious company with the same job title.

Chief technology officers can take advantage of membership in many national and local associations, including: