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The differences between computer specialists and technical support specialists 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 specialist and a technical support specialist. Additionally, a computer specialist has an average salary of $75,950, which is higher than the $48,667 average annual salary of a technical support specialist.
The top three skills for a computer specialist include data entry, troubleshoot and computer system. The most important skills for a technical support specialist are customer service, technical support, and troubleshoot.
| Computer Specialist | Technical Support Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $75,950 | $48,667 |
| Hourly rate | $36.51 | $23.40 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 75,054 | 157,425 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.6 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A computer specialist's responsibilities typically revolve around installing and repairing computer hardware and software. They meet with clients to identify their needs, examine and troubleshoot equipment, perform upgrades, and discuss the extent of repairs or replacements to clients. In a company setting, a computer specialist is in charge of overseeing an array of equipment, conducting regular maintenance checks, and performing corrective measures as needed. Furthermore, they must provide technical support, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
A technical support specialist is responsible for assisting customer's and businesses' concerns and system issues by performing troubleshooting and remote solutions. These specialists must have extensive knowledge of system applications, including software and hardware database to handle complex processes that might affect the end user's experience or the business' daily operations. Technical support specialists should maintain excellent communication skills to guide the client and business on solving network problems. They must also document concerns and progress promptly for reference and quality checks.
Computer specialists and technical support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Specialist | Technical Support Specialist | |
| Average salary | $75,950 | $48,667 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $97,000 | Between $30,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Finance |
There are a few differences between a computer specialist and a technical support specialist in terms of educational background:
| Computer Specialist | Technical Support Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between computer specialists' and technical support specialists' demographics:
| Computer Specialist | Technical Support Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.8% Female, 29.2% | Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 11.7% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 11.3% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |