Chief technology officer
Also known as: chief technology officers, IT director, information technology director, CTO
About this occupation
Chief technology officers contribute to a company's technical vision and lead all aspects of technology development, according to its strategic direction and growth objectives. They match technology with business needs.
Essential skills and knowledge
- utilise decision support system
- lead technology development of an organisation
- analyse ICT system
- monitor ICT research
- monitor technology trends
- implement ICT coding conventions
- administer ICT system
- implement corporate governance
- review development process of an organisation
- establish an ICT customer support process
- optimise choice of ICT solution
- decision support systems
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Information Technology Project Managers (O*NET 15-1299.09). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Manage project execution to ensure adherence to budget, schedule, and scope.
- Confer with project personnel to identify and resolve problems.
- Monitor or track project milestones and deliverables.
- Submit project deliverables, ensuring adherence to quality standards.
- Assess current or future customer needs and priorities by communicating directly with customers, conducting surveys, or other methods.
- Initiate, review, or approve modifications to project plans.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Enterprising, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, Coordination, Time Management
US median pay: US$116,580 a year (2025), 435,370 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.3)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (4.2)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (4.0)
- Economics or AccountingO*NET: Economics and AccountingImportant (3.4)
- Design and TechnologyO*NET: Design + Engineering and TechnologyImportant (3.2)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.1)
- Media StudiesO*NET: Communications and MediaImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Project Management Specialists
- Management Analysts
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Software Developers
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
- General and Operations Managers
- Database Administrators
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Database Architects
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.