What does a computer repair technician do?
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.
Computer repair technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real computer repair technician resumes:
- Recreate and manage company website, maintain regular updates, manage DNS servers, administrate e-mail and outlook exchange server.
- Perform virus and spyware removal.
- Maintain store supplies and orders with Quickbooks.
- Perform QA testing for all steps of the process.
- Web development utilizing HTML, CSS, PHP and MySQL.
- Provide video and photo editing services and finish DVD creation.
- Replace, troubleshot, update and install hardware and software components.
- Used QuickBooks as the POS software so customers can pay for services offer at the store.
- Repair home computer problems that are related to Spyware, viruses, and physical hardware failure.
- Used Linux to fix the MBR, provide data backups, & for other specialize repair functions.
- Perform backup on critical application and data using Linux terminal (tar command) and backup utilities.
- Evaluate technical issues, solve customer concerns, and troubleshot computer problems in an efficient and courteous manner.
- Repair and upgrade existing PCs, install memory, network interface cards, hard drives, and floppy drives.
- Job duties include going out on site for installation, upgrade, or repair of PC's and LAN systems.
- Maintain, adjust, upgrade, service and repair microcomputers, laptops, POS registers, networks, terminals and peripherals.
Computer repair technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Computer Repair Technicians are proficient in Troubleshoot, Laptop Computers, and Computer System. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Computer Repair Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Troubleshoot, 12%
Maintained professional relationships with customers to diagnose and troubleshoot their computer problems.
- Laptop Computers, 10%
Specialize in repair of desktop/laptop computers and in installation/upgrade of Windows operation system and applications.
- Computer System, 6%
Dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and to quickly getting customers' computer systems back up and running efficiently.
- Printers, 6%
Determined configuration problems with networked printers and printer hardware.
- Desktop Computers, 5%
Core duties involved diagnosing various problems with desktop computers, updating anti-virus software/installation of Service Packs.
- Repair Computers, 5%
Diagnose, maintain, and repair computers and computer networks for individuals and small businesses.
Common skills that a computer repair technician uses to do their job include "troubleshoot," "laptop computers," and "computer system." You can find details on the most important computer repair technician responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a computer repair technician to have is customer-service skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic." Computer repair technicians often use customer-service skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "repaired laptops, desktops, and all-in-one pcs under manufacturer and store warranty, and customer cash on delivery. "
Listening skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling computer repair technician duties is listening skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions to clarify the situation." According to a computer repair technician resume, here's how computer repair technicians can utilize listening skills in their job responsibilities: "communicated technical problems to non-technical clients and provided a clear solution to their technology problems. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of computer repair technicians is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday computer repair technician duties, as "support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems, analyze them, and solve them." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "resolved computer hardware and software, printing, installation, word processing, email and operating systems issues. "
Speaking skills. computer repair technician responsibilities often require "speaking skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "support workers must describe the solutions to computer problems in a way that a nontechnical person can understand." This resume example shows what computer repair technicians do with speaking skills on a typical day: "addressed software, hardware problems with mis staff and developed solutions. "
Writing skills. A commonly-found skill in computer repair technician job descriptions, "writing skills" is essential to what computer repair technicians do. Computer repair technician responsibilities rely on this skill because "strong writing skills are useful for preparing instructions and email responses for employees and customers, as well as for real-time web chat interactions." You can also see how computer repair technician duties rely on writing skills in this resume example: "repaired and refurbished touch screen pos systems - hardware replacement - software writing - system testing"
The three companies that hire the most computer repair technicians are:
- National Vision Administrators24 computer repair technicians jobs
- PC Laptops5 computer repair technicians jobs
- Volt Systems LLC3 computer repair technicians jobs
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Compare different computer repair technicians
Computer repair technician vs. Technician support tier
A technician support tier focuses on providing technical support to clients or employees within a company. Typically working in a team setting, a technician support tier addresses technical problems and troubleshoots to identify the root of the issues and perform necessary corrective measures or repairs. Their responsibilities also revolve around responding to inquiries, answering calls and correspondence, conducting regular maintenance of systems and networks, maintaining records of all transactions, and supporting software and networks. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with all team members while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a computer repair technician are more likely to require skills like "troubleshoot," "laptop computers," "printers," and "desktop computers." On the other hand, a job as a technician support tier requires skills like "customer service," "technical support," "lan wan," and "phone calls." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Technician support tiers tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $62,098. In contrast, computer repair technicians make the biggest average salary, $40,917, in the technology industry.technician support tiers tend to reach similar levels of education than computer repair technicians. In fact, technician support tiers are 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Computer repair technician vs. Information technology/support technician
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.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real computer repair technician resumes. While computer repair technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "laptop computers," "printers," "repair computers," and "preventive maintenance," information technology/support technicians use skills like "customer service," "desk support," "phone calls," and "remote desktop."
Information technology/support technicians may earn a higher salary than computer repair technicians, but information technology/support technicians earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $53,210. On the other hand, computer repair technicians receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $40,917.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Information technology/support technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than computer repair technicians. In fact, they're 2.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for computer repair technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Ming Chow
Associate Teaching Professor, Tufts University
References:
1. cybersecurity
2. cybersecurity
Computer repair technician vs. Computer science internship
A computer science intern is responsible for supporting the technology team of an organization in designing computer systems, modifying networks, and resolving technical issues. Computer science interns observe the technical processes of tenured staff, shadow operations daily, and recommend strategies to improve efficiency and productivity according to business requirements and functions. They also analyze the complexities of systems programming, study the navigation of servers, and write resolution reports. A computer science intern must have excellent communication and technical skills to assist the team in the project processes and deliverables.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a computer repair technician is likely to be skilled in "laptop computers," "printers," "repair computers," and "preventive maintenance," while a typical computer science internship is skilled in "python," "c++," "c #," and "java."
Computer science interns typically earn higher educational levels compared to computer repair technicians. Specifically, they're 5.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Computer repair technician vs. Technical support technician
Technical support technicians are skilled professionals who resolve computer or information technology-related concerns. They may do installations, repairs, or maintenance activities of various applications or computer hardware. They are sometimes assigned specific issues or concerns to resolve so that they will not be bombarded with various issues. This means that they can now specialize in a specific family of concerns. Technical support technicians may provide on-site support, going directly to the person who needs help and doing what needs to be done or troubleshoot the problem in person. They may also be offsite and would usually be manning helpdesk hotlines. Offsite technical support technicians walk the caller through the steps they should do to fix the issues. As such, when a technical support technician is offsite, they are expected to be good communicators and will be able to provide clear instructions.
Types of computer repair technician
Updated January 8, 2025
