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The differences between computer support specialists and computer 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 support specialist and a computer technician. Additionally, a computer support specialist has an average salary of $63,926, which is higher than the $39,767 average annual salary of a computer technician.
The top three skills for a computer support specialist include computer support, troubleshoot and technical support. The most important skills for a computer technician are customer service, desk support, and network printers.
| Computer Support Specialist | Computer Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $63,926 | $39,767 |
| Hourly rate | $30.73 | $19.12 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 114,029 | 95,688 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A Computer Support Specialist is responsible for providing the highest customer service for clients with technical and system issues, resolving network failures, and creating support tickets for IT personnel. Computer Support Specialists utilize various system tools and applications to diagnose end-users network issues and conduct immediate troubleshooting. They also help the IT staff design and improve system features and infrastructures and create instructional manuals for deliverables. A Computer Support Specialist must have excellent technical and communication skills to document customers' requests and identify system solutions.
Computer technicians are skilled information technology professionals who handle concerns related to computers. They are responsible for assisting clients in software installations, troubleshooting needs, and repair needs. Computer technicians handle the maintenance and repair of both software and hardware of computers. They should be able to quickly pinpoint the causes of computer problems that the client encounters. They should also be able to answer the clients' computer-related inquiries and provide advice on proper computer handling. Computer technicians should have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Computer support specialists and computer technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Support Specialist | Computer Technician | |
| Average salary | $63,926 | $39,767 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $91,000 | Between $28,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Alexandria, VA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Virginia |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Government |
There are a few differences between a computer support specialist and a computer technician in terms of educational background:
| Computer Support Specialist | Computer Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between computer support specialists' and computer technicians' demographics:
| Computer Support Specialist | Computer Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9% | Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 11.1% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |