 April Ellison is an IT project manager at Safeway Inc. in Hayward, Calif.
Top 50 rank: 5
Sector: Information Technology What they do: Keep big tech projects like software upgrades running on time--and on budget. "We bring order to chaos," says April Ellison, an IT project manager in the San Francisco Bay Area. Why it's great: Lots of opportunity. "Just about all companies need techsavvy people who are great managers," says Houston tech recruiter Linda Ranostaj. Figuring out how to implement cutting-edge technologies keeps the job challenging. Good upward mobility: IT project managers can rise to chief technology officer of a company, where the salaries can hit $300,000. Do you prefer to work for yourself? The field offers plenty of consulting work. Drawbacks: Hours (and hours and hours) of meetings. Aggressive project timelines. Staff jobs can be outsourced to consultants. Pre-reqs: Five to seven years of technology and computer-related experience. A project management professional certification, along with an MBA, will enhance career prospects. Do IT Project Managers have great jobs, or what?
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Information Technology Project Manager stats
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Systems engineers manage large projects and are in big demand, according to Money's 2009 list. Some, like Anne O'Neil, make the trains run. Watch
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