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Computer technical specialist vs computer technician

The differences between computer technical 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 technical specialist and a computer technician. Additionally, a computer technical specialist has an average salary of $51,859, which is higher than the $39,767 average annual salary of a computer technician.

The top three skills for a computer technical specialist include CAD, mac and network printers. The most important skills for a computer technician are customer service, desk support, and network printers.

Computer technical specialist vs computer technician overview

Computer Technical SpecialistComputer Technician
Yearly salary$51,859$39,767
Hourly rate$24.93$19.12
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs130,20795,688
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Computer technical specialist vs computer technician salary

Computer technical specialists and computer technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Computer Technical SpecialistComputer Technician
Average salary$51,859$39,767
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $72,000Between $28,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CityKirkland, WAAlexandria, VA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyVirginia
Best paying companyBrillioThe Citadel
Best paying industryEducationGovernment

Differences between computer technical specialist and computer technician education

There are a few differences between a computer technical specialist and a computer technician in terms of educational background:

Computer Technical SpecialistComputer Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorComputer ScienceComputer Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Computer technical specialist vs computer technician demographics

Here are the differences between computer technical specialists' and computer technicians' demographics:

Computer Technical SpecialistComputer Technician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 76.3% Female, 23.7%Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 11.0% White, 55.4% 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 Percentage11%11%

Differences between computer technical specialist and computer technician duties and responsibilities

Computer technical specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage customer complaints and internal GMP audits for product manufacturing, coordinate FDA audits and recommend corrective actions.
  • Initiate and implement projects for cost reduction, productivity improvement, and increase equipment availability/reliability and to meet ISO compliance.
  • Assist with daily documentation and tracking of each customer concern using a SharePoint remedy ticketing system.

Computer technician example responsibilities.

  • Recreate and manage company website, maintain regular updates, manage DNS servers, administrate e-mail and outlook exchange server.
  • Manage and maintain desktop security updates company-wide with no downtime of systems due to OS vulnerability exploitation.
  • Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.
  • Add and configure networked printers for TCP/IP printing and other peripheral equipment including video conferencing equipment.
  • Diagnose and troubleshot computer hardware and software.
  • Fix computers, do inventory of computers, run cables.
  • Show more

Computer technical specialist vs computer technician skills

Common computer technical specialist skills
  • CAD, 13%
  • Mac, 8%
  • Network Printers, 8%
  • Technical Support, 6%
  • Desk Support, 6%
  • OS, 4%
Common computer technician skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Desk Support, 8%
  • Network Printers, 6%
  • Computer System, 6%
  • Technical Support, 6%
  • Laptop Computers, 5%

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