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The differences between computer assistants and computer support specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a computer assistant and a computer support specialist. Additionally, a computer support specialist has an average salary of $63,926, which is higher than the $47,077 average annual salary of a computer assistant.
The top three skills for a computer assistant include computer equipment, software issues and customer support. The most important skills for a computer support specialist are computer support, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Computer Assistant | Computer Support Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $47,077 | $63,926 |
| Hourly rate | $22.63 | $30.73 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 33,400 | 114,029 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Also referred to as customer support staff or technical support, a computer assistant describes and solves technical problems associated with computer systems and programs. Computer assistants provide telephone-based and on-site assistance to clients and customers. They use their communication and technical skills to help users with their computer troubleshooting problems. While some of them work in call centers, communicate via email or through online chat. It is also their responsibility to install and upgrade the computer software and hardware systems of their employer.
A Computer Support Specialist is responsible for providing the highest customer service for clients with technical and system issues, resolving network failures, and creating support tickets for IT personnel. Computer Support Specialists utilize various system tools and applications to diagnose end-users network issues and conduct immediate troubleshooting. They also help the IT staff design and improve system features and infrastructures and create instructional manuals for deliverables. A Computer Support Specialist must have excellent technical and communication skills to document customers' requests and identify system solutions.
Computer assistants and computer support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Assistant | Computer Support Specialist | |
| Average salary | $47,077 | $63,926 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $83,000 | Between $44,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a computer assistant and a computer support specialist in terms of educational background:
| Computer Assistant | Computer Support Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between computer assistants' and computer support specialists' demographics:
| Computer Assistant | Computer Support Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.8% Female, 44.2% | Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 14.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |