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The differences between assistive technology specialists and lead technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an assistive technology specialist and a lead technician. Additionally, a lead technician has an average salary of $90,615, which is higher than the $52,611 average annual salary of an assistive technology specialist.
The top three skills for an assistive technology specialist include rehabilitation, adaptive and technical support. The most important skills for a lead technician are java, architecture, and digital transformation.
| Assistive Technology Specialist | Lead Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $52,611 | $90,615 |
| Hourly rate | $25.29 | $43.56 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 121,308 | 250,590 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An Assistive Technology Specialist helps clients to obtain assistive devices that fit their needs. They facilitate access to these devices by maintaining an open communication line with clients and staff, handling calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, answering inquiries, and explaining services to potential clients. Besides helping clients obtain equipment and services, they also provide technical support and assistance to meet their needs, making them feel at ease every step of the way. Moreover, an Assistive Technology Specialist must keep extensive records and implement standards and policies.
Lead technicians are technicians who oversee the technical needs of a specific project or department. They are usually tenured employees, and their familiarity with the company's technical and technological processes, software, and hardware would be a great advantage in succeeding in their role. Lead technicians are responsible for installing, updating, and maintaining various software and hardware components in the office. They often manage a group of technicians, and they ensure that the group they manage is properly trained and well-versed on the processes of the company. Lead technicians are expected to have strong analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Assistive technology specialists and lead technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistive Technology Specialist | Lead Technician | |
| Average salary | $52,611 | $90,615 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $71,000 | Between $67,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | Dover, DE | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | California |
| Best paying company | CENTER FOR SIGHT | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Internet | Retail |
There are a few differences between an assistive technology specialist and a lead technician in terms of educational background:
| Assistive Technology Specialist | Lead Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between assistive technology specialists' and lead technicians' demographics:
| Assistive Technology Specialist | Lead Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.8% Female, 60.2% | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 15.1% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |