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The differences between computer system technicians and network 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 system technician and a network technician. Additionally, a network technician has an average salary of $68,938, which is higher than the $68,788 average annual salary of a computer system technician.
The top three skills for a computer system technician include technical support, electronic equipment and trouble tickets. The most important skills for a network technician are customer service, switches, and troubleshoot.
| Computer System Technician | Network Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $68,788 | $68,938 |
| Hourly rate | $33.07 | $33.14 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 99,879 | 79,712 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Computer system technicians provide support for a company's operating systems. They monitor the system's overall performance and catch errors to resolve as soon as possible. These technicians use software that ensures a network's functional performance, maintains hardware that can affect the system's performance, and relays computer reports to clients in layman's terms. Their jobs include training employees on using the company's hardware and software resources, thus the importance of quickly familiarizing with the system.
A network technician is responsible for system malfunction diagnosis and troubleshooting operations. Network technicians duties' include repairing damaged system components, analyzing computer systems and blueprints, installing network connections, and upgrading accessories for efficient operations. Other duties include assisting customers with technical issues, ensuring computer systems' privacy, creating documents of network issues and resolutions, and suggesting alternative equipment for network backups. A network technician must have a broad knowledge of the technology industry and mechanical processes, plus the ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision.
Computer system technicians and network technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer System Technician | Network Technician | |
| Average salary | $68,788 | $68,938 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $91,000 | Between $51,000 And $92,000 |
| Highest paying City | Pawtucket, RI | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Berkshire Hathaway | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a computer system technician and a network technician in terms of educational background:
| Computer System Technician | Network Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between computer system technicians' and network technicians' demographics:
| Computer System Technician | Network Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% | Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.4% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |