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The differences between computer repair technicians and information technology/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 an information technology/support technician. Additionally, an information technology/support technician has an average salary of $45,591, 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 an information technology/support technician are customer service, troubleshoot, and computer system.
| Computer Repair Technician | Information Technology/Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $32,627 | $45,591 |
| Hourly rate | $15.69 | $21.92 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 109,196 | 161,748 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| 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.
An information technology (IT) support technician is an individual who is responsible for providing support and troubleshoots software and hardware problems faced by customers. As for larger organizations that have their own IT department, technicians must work together internally with their IT staff members. IT support technicians are involved in inspecting and resolving minor local area network and wireless network issues, which include TCP/IP, DHCP, and VPN. They are also required to obtain an associate's degree in computer science or related field.
Computer repair technicians and information technology/support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Repair Technician | Information Technology/Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $32,627 | $45,591 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $41,000 | Between $31,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Paul, MN | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a computer repair technician and an information technology/support technician in terms of educational background:
| Computer Repair Technician | Information Technology/Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| 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 information technology/support technicians' demographics:
| Computer Repair Technician | Information Technology/Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% | Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6% |
| 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, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 13.2% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |