Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between computer system specialists and systems 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 system specialist and a systems support specialist. Additionally, a computer system specialist has an average salary of $71,716, which is higher than the $61,744 average annual salary of a systems support specialist.
The top three skills for a computer system specialist include computer system, troubleshoot and CSV. The most important skills for a systems support specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Computer System Specialist | Systems Support Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $71,716 | $61,744 |
| Hourly rate | $34.48 | $29.68 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 89,673 | 159,364 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| 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.
A systems support specialist is responsible for assisting end-users on system issues, including network configuration and improving network infrastructure. System support specialists implement network strategies alongside the whole technology team to boost the system's efficiency and optimal performance. They create resolution reports for reference and write recommendations to prevent system defects and inconsistencies. A systems support specialist also handles network installations and upgrades, requiring them to have excellent technical skills and knowledge of programming languages.
Computer system specialists and systems support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer System Specialist | Systems Support Specialist | |
| Average salary | $71,716 | $61,744 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $102,000 | Between $41,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Centreville, VA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Los Alamos National Laboratory | Koch Industries |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a computer system specialist and a systems support specialist in terms of educational background:
| Computer System Specialist | Systems Support Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between computer system specialists' and systems support specialists' demographics:
| Computer System Specialist | Systems Support Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% | Male, 73.4% Female, 26.6% |
| 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, 11.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |