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The differences between computer repair technicians and computer support 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 repair technician and a computer support technician. Additionally, a computer support technician has an average salary of $41,852, which is higher than the $32,627 average annual salary of a computer repair technician.
The top three skills for a computer repair technician include troubleshoot, laptop computers and computer system. The most important skills for a computer support technician are customer service, technical support, and computer support.
| Computer Repair Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $32,627 | $41,852 |
| Hourly rate | $15.69 | $20.12 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 109,196 | 121,180 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A computer repair technician installs, repairs, and maintains different computer equipment. Computer repair technicians repair and maintain computers and their servers. The technicians are responsible for configuring and building new hardware as well as installing and updating software packages. They have to be updated on the ever-evolving technology for certain job analysis and troubleshooting. Good computer repair technicians are investigative who are introspective, inquisitive, and intellectual. They are also methodical, logical, rational, and curious.
A computer support technician is responsible for diagnosing and resolving computer and network issues, identifying the source of malfunctions, and improving infrastructure to avoid downtimes and operational delays. Computer support technicians manage the efficiency of all equipment and peripherals for the computers, assist in installing components, and keeping adequate resources or alternatives for defective items. They also recommend minimal costs technology materials and create troubleshooting manuals for reference, ensuring that the network processes adhere to internal guidelines and regulations.
Computer repair technicians and computer support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Repair Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $32,627 | $41,852 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $41,000 | Between $34,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Paul, MN | Lompoc, CA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | California |
| Best paying company | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a computer repair technician and a computer support technician in terms of educational background:
| Computer Repair Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between computer repair technicians' and computer support technicians' demographics:
| Computer Repair Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 10.7% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 11.7% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |