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The differences between computer system specialists and installation 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 system specialist and an installation specialist. Additionally, a computer system specialist has an average salary of $71,716, which is higher than the $49,602 average annual salary of an installation specialist.
The top three skills for a computer system specialist include computer system, troubleshoot and CSV. The most important skills for an installation specialist are customer service, ladders, and scaffolding.
| Computer System Specialist | Installation Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $71,716 | $49,602 |
| Hourly rate | $34.48 | $23.85 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 89,673 | 103,003 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Computer system specialists are responsible for providing technical guidance in developing and troubleshooting a company's computer systems. They adjust the software to provide the database needs of every department in the company. These specialists manage the intranet and internet websites the network users can access and test for system issues to resolve. They serve as lead workers that provide supervision and training over clerical and technical staff on how the system functions. Their duties also include gathering feedback from users to update the system to provide for their needs.
Installation specialists are skilled employees who are responsible for installing various equipment, machinery, and computer systems for a company or clients. These specialists must work with HVAC contractors to install air-conditioning ductwork and materials in business establishments and homes. They should recommend corrective action when identifying electrical and environmental deficiencies to ensure optimized performance and reliability of equipment. Installation specialists must also test hardware and software to determine its efficiency and reliability as well as its compatibility with the existing system.
Computer system specialists and installation specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer System Specialist | Installation Specialist | |
| Average salary | $71,716 | $49,602 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $102,000 | Between $33,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Los Alamos National Laboratory | Technip USA Corporation |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a computer system specialist and an installation specialist in terms of educational background:
| Computer System Specialist | Installation Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between computer system specialists' and installation specialists' demographics:
| Computer System Specialist | Installation Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.1% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |