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Computer engineering technician vs hardware technician

The differences between computer engineering technicians and hardware technicians 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 engineering technician and a hardware technician. Additionally, a computer engineering technician has an average salary of $75,071, which is higher than the $47,851 average annual salary of a hardware technician.

The top three skills for a computer engineering technician include technical support, DOD and CNC. The most important skills for a hardware technician are customer service, technical support, and network printers.

Computer engineering technician vs hardware technician overview

Computer Engineering TechnicianHardware Technician
Yearly salary$75,071$47,851
Hourly rate$36.09$23.01
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs97,05785,174
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Computer engineering technician vs hardware technician salary

Computer engineering technicians and hardware technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Computer Engineering TechnicianHardware Technician
Average salary$75,071$47,851
Salary rangeBetween $51,000 And $109,000Between $32,000 And $71,000
Highest paying CityCupertino, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaDelaware
Best paying companyAppleApple
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between computer engineering technician and hardware technician education

There are a few differences between a computer engineering technician and a hardware technician in terms of educational background:

Computer Engineering TechnicianHardware Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringComputer Science
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Pennsylvania

Computer engineering technician vs hardware technician demographics

Here are the differences between computer engineering technicians' and hardware technicians' demographics:

Computer Engineering TechnicianHardware Technician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 84.3% Female, 15.7%Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 13.8% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between computer engineering technician and hardware technician duties and responsibilities

Computer engineering technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage inventory and maintenance of POS equipment for retail locations including major corporations.
  • Set up PCs, laptops, tablets.
  • Configure PCs and establish DSL link.
  • Used Altiris software to remotely troubleshoot various PC, Macintosh, network and printer issues.
  • Prepare new & maintain existing workstations, set up printers & projectors, cleaning, painting and plumbing.
  • Engineer test next-generation printers including printer firmware upgrades, speed testing, toner-yield testing, power cycling, etc.
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Hardware technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage resource allocation and work scheduling for UNIX restatement administrators across all the shifts.
  • Manage all customer network equipment including routers, switches, WLC's, AP's, and firewalls.
  • Manage trouble ticket queues in order to keep tickets within SLA's and to expedite high level issues.
  • Work to troubleshoot OS and hardware issue on many computers and peripherals.
  • Test and troubleshoot: reset bios and perform power-on-self-test on servers and PCs, perform power on tests on various electronics.
  • Update LAN spreadsheets with appropriate computer information.
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Computer engineering technician vs hardware technician skills

Common computer engineering technician skills
  • Technical Support, 13%
  • DOD, 13%
  • CNC, 9%
  • OS, 9%
  • Linux, 8%
  • Java, 7%
Common hardware technician skills
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Technical Support, 5%
  • Network Printers, 5%
  • Desktop Support, 5%
  • Test Equipment, 4%
  • Switches, 4%

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