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Computer installation technician vs hardware technician

The differences between computer installation 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 installation technician and a hardware technician. Additionally, a hardware technician has an average salary of $47,851, which is higher than the $31,492 average annual salary of a computer installation technician.

The top three skills for a computer installation technician include computer system, troubleshoot and laptop computers. The most important skills for a hardware technician are customer service, technical support, and network printers.

Computer installation technician vs hardware technician overview

Computer Installation TechnicianHardware Technician
Yearly salary$31,492$47,851
Hourly rate$15.14$23.01
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs63,38685,174
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Computer installation technician vs hardware technician salary

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

Computer Installation TechnicianHardware Technician
Average salary$31,492$47,851
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $40,000Between $32,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Delaware
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between computer installation technician and hardware technician education

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

Computer Installation TechnicianHardware Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorBusinessComputer Science
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Computer installation technician vs hardware technician demographics

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

Computer Installation TechnicianHardware Technician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 93.9% Female, 6.1%Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.7% 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 installation technician and hardware technician duties and responsibilities

Computer installation technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and maintain desktop security updates company-wide with no downtime of systems due to OS vulnerability exploitation.
  • Repair PCs and Internet connectivity issues.
  • Configure mapping for workstations to access LAN's and network devices.
  • Perform preventive and on-demand maintenance on a variety of LAN equipment.
  • Design, install, and troubleshoot CAD/AVL systems for RTD buses and vehicles.
  • Log into PCs as a user to finish imaging and drop additional application for each persons user profile.
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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.
  • Show more

Computer installation technician vs hardware technician skills

Common computer installation technician skills
  • Computer System, 16%
  • Troubleshoot, 14%
  • Laptop Computers, 11%
  • OS, 7%
  • POS, 6%
  • PCS, 6%
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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