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The differences between computer repair 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 repair technician and a hardware technician. Additionally, a hardware technician has an average salary of $47,851, 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 hardware technician are customer service, technical support, and network printers.
| Computer Repair Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $32,627 | $47,851 |
| Hourly rate | $15.69 | $23.01 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 109,196 | 85,174 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| 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 hardware technician is typically in charge of providing technical support to clients or employees, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. In a company setting, a hardware technician is responsible for performing initial assessments on computer hardware, troubleshooting, diagnosing problems, and providing step by step solutions to solve the issues. They may also perform corrective repairs on problems and conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure the quality of equipment. Furthermore, as a hardware technician, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Computer repair technicians and hardware technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Repair Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Average salary | $32,627 | $47,851 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $41,000 | Between $32,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Paul, MN | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a computer repair technician and a hardware technician in terms of educational background:
| Computer Repair Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| 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 hardware technicians' demographics:
| Computer Repair Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |