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The differences between assistive technology specialists and technical specialists 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 technical specialist. Additionally, a technical specialist has an average salary of $88,773, 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 technical specialist are customer service, technical support, and patients.
| Assistive Technology Specialist | Technical Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $52,611 | $88,773 |
| Hourly rate | $25.29 | $42.68 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 121,308 | 121,151 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| 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.
The role of technical specialists is to provide technical support for applications and programs to staff members and customers within an organization. They train staff and customers on products and apps and offer advice on the best practices for utilizing technical programs and applications. They also design training materials to teach other staff members the most effective methods of using its technology. It is also their job to reduce company costs by looking for ways to improve productivity and lessen expenses.
Assistive technology specialists and technical specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistive Technology Specialist | Technical Specialist | |
| Average salary | $52,611 | $88,773 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $71,000 | Between $62,000 And $126,000 |
| Highest paying City | Dover, DE | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Delaware |
| Best paying company | CENTER FOR SIGHT | Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner |
| Best paying industry | Internet | Technology |
There are a few differences between an assistive technology specialist and a technical specialist in terms of educational background:
| Assistive Technology Specialist | Technical Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between assistive technology specialists' and technical specialists' demographics:
| Assistive Technology Specialist | Technical Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.8% Female, 60.2% | Male, 71.2% Female, 28.8% |
| 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, 10.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 12.5% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |