How to Become an IT Manager in India: Step-by-Step Career Guide for 2026

With more and more companies embracing digital transformation, the role of an IT manager has changed from just keeping systems up to driving innovation. IT managers have become indispensable partners in the digital transformation process. They help to make effective use of new IT tools in business operations. In our blog, learn how to become an IT manager, required educational qualification, and top skills.

Who is an IT Manager?

An IT manager is a highly qualified IT professional who assumes responsibility for the management of an organization's technology infrastructure, ensuring that the systems operate properly, projects are on schedule, and the technology resources are aligned with the objectives of the company. He/she leads the IT teams, manages the budget, and applies solutions that make the operations of the company more effective and further support business growth.

• Governance and compliance of technological systems
• Maintenance and support of the IT infrastructure
• Enhance the overall functionality and reliability of systems

That is a very dynamic job role, as it encompasses technical knowledge along with leadership and problem-solving skills. Although a team handles coding and designing, the IT Manager acts as the backbone to the IT operations to ensure continuity of technology in supporting the organization's objectives.

What Should You Study to Become an IT Manager?

The educational qualification to become an IT manager would include a technical degree, such as a B.Tech or B.E. in Computer Science or Information Technology. The following is the eligibility criteria to become an IT manager.

Criteria	Requirements
Education	B.Tech/B.E. in IT B.Tech/B.E. in Computer Science BCA Any related field
School Subjects Needed	Science with Mathematics at the 10+2 or intermediate level
Advanced Education (optional but helpful)	M.Tech CSE/M.Sc. IT MBA in IT Any related field
Experience	A minimum of 3 – 5 years in IT roles such as software, networks, computer systems, or technical support
Leadership Skills	Experience managing IT teams or IT projects
Technical Skills	IT infrastructure and systems Security and data Modern technologies such as cloud computing, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and blockchain. Project and operations management Team management
Soft Skills	Communication, problem-solving, adaptability, innovation, and decision-making

How to Become an IT Manager

For a career in IT management, you must have a background in both computer science and information technology, and managerial skills. Here is the educational pathway you can follow to become an IT Manager.

Level	Qualification	Specialization	Duration
Undergraduate	B.Tech/B.E., BCA, B.Sc. (IT/CS)	Computer Science, IT	3–4 years
Postgraduate	MBA/PGDM (IT Management), M.Tech	IT Management, Information Systems	2 years
Certifications	PMP, ITIL, CompTIA, AWS	Professional	6–12 months

1. Pursue an Undergraduate Technical Degree

The role of an IT manager requires a specific skill set, and companies look for certain degrees when hiring one. 

The eligibility criteria to pursue a bachelor’s degree in IT or computer science are to study Physics, Chemistry, Math, or Physics, Chemistry, Biology  + Math.

Top Undergraduate Courses to Become an IT Manager

• B.Tech / B.E. in Computer Science or IT
• B.Sc. in Computer Science / IT
• BCA 
• Diploma in Computer Science or IT after Class 10

Entrance Exams for Admission to Undergraduate Courses

Course Type	Common Entrance Exams
B.Tech / B.E.	JEE Mains JEE Advanced Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test (BITSAT) Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Examination (VITEEE) SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Examination (SRMJEEE) Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Entrance Examination (KIITEE) West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) Maharashtra Health and Technical Common Entrance Test (MHT CET)
B.Sc (IT/CS)	Common University Entrance Test (CUET) Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test (IPU CET) NMIMS Programs Aptitude Test (NPAT) Banaras Hindu University Entrance Test (BHU UET)
BCA	Maharashtra Bachelor of Computer Applications Common Entrance Test (MAH BCA CET) Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) Common University Entrance Test - Undergraduate (CUET UG) KIITEE IPU CET

2. Go for Advanced Education (Postgraduate Level)

Although not mandatory, pursuing a postgraduate degree adds significant value and improves career prospects for aspiring IT managers.

Popular Postgraduate Programs

• MBA in Information Technology
• PGDM in IT Management
• M.Tech in Information Systems / Computer Science

Eligibility

• Bachelor’s degree (in any stream, preferably IT-related) with at least 50% marks from a recognised university.

Entrance Exams for Admission:

Course Type	Common Entrance Exams
MBA / PGDM	CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, NMAT, SNAP
M.Tech	GATE, BITS HD, VITMEE

Distance and Online MBA Options:
Working professionals can pursue online or distance MBA in IT Management from reputed institutions such as:

• NMIMS Global 
• Amity University Online
• Manipal University Jaipur (Online)
• Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL)

These programs allow students to work and study simultaneously, making them ideal for those seeking career advancement.

3. Develop Relevant Skills 

To become a successful IT Manager, students should focus on building both technical and managerial skills, such as:

• Network and systems management
• Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) framework
• Disaster recovery
• Cybersecurity basics
• Project management (Agile, Scrum)
• Database and cloud computing 
• Leadership and strong communication skills
• Technical Expertise
• Budget Management
• Vendor Management
• Problem Solving
• Communication
• Strategic Planning
• Change Management 

4. Career Growth

After completing your degree(s), you can start your career as:

• IT Support Engineer
• System Analyst
• Network Administrator
• Project Coordinator

With experience and additional certifications (like PMP, ITIL, or CompTIA), you can progress to roles such as:

• IT Project Manager
• IT Infrastructure Manager
• Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• Chief Technology Officer (CIO)

Top Courses to Become an IT Manager

Listed below are some of the best courses in a varying price range for you to consider, based on your career goals and budget:

Course Name	Course Provider & Duration	Fee
IT Management Fundamentals - From IT Tech to IT Manager	Udemy (5 Hours)	INR 559
Diploma in IT Management	Indian Institute of Skill Development Training (6 months)	INR 4000
IBM IT Project Manager Professional Certificate	Coursera (4 months)	Subscription-based (INR 3,499)
Project Management for Information Technology and Management	Coursera (6 weeks)	Subscription-based (INR 2,699)
CPITM - Certified Professional IT Manager	Udemy (1.5 Hours)	INR 549
Certified Information Technology Manager (CITM)	Global Association for Quality Management (30 - 35 Hours)	US$190 (~INR 16685)
Information Technology Management and Leadership Professional (ITMLP®)	Information Technology Management and Leadership Institute (3 Days)	US$1,999 (~INR 1,75,543) including the exam fee

IT Manager Salary in India

An IT Manager with 3 - 5 years of experience earns around INR 3-15 LPA, with an average annual salary of INR 7.2 LPA. Salaries go up with increased expertise, enhanced skill sets, the company where you are working, and the location of work. 

Listed below are the salaries of an IT Manager across India.

City	Average Salary	Salary Range (Exp. 5 - 19 Years)
Bangalore	INR 17.6 LPA	INR 4.8 - 36 LPA
Hyderabad / Secunderabad	INR 15.8 LPA	INR 4.3 - 33 LPA
Chennai	INR 14.6 LPA	INR 4.1 - 29 LPA
Noida	INR 14.2 LPA	INR 4 - 25 LPA
Gurgaon	INR 14 LPA	INR 4.5 - 30 LPA
Mumbai	INR 13.9 LPA	INR 4.5 - 24.1 LPA
Pune	INR 13.9 LPA	INR 4.3 - 31 LPA
Kolkata	INR 12.1 LPA	INR 3.1 - 18 LPA
New Delhi	INR 11.7 LPA	INR 3.7 - 21.8 LPA
Ahmedabad	INR 10.8 LPA	INR 3.6 - 20 LPA

Salary Source: Ambitionbox