A Computer Technician is responsible for repairing and maintaining computers and servers. They set up computer hardware and technological equipment. They install, configure, and update software and drivers, create, and support computer networks. They manage security options and ensure the privacy of networks and the information stored on the devices.
They are responsible for an adequate and functional IT infrastructure at a company or institution. They troubleshoot any issue occurring with hardware, components, peripheral devices, software, and networks. They perform diagnostic tests, resolve errors, and maintain internet connectivity, making sure the system runs correctly.
They are diligent workers with acute problem-solving skills. They are service-oriented, patient, and have excellent communications skills to be able to deal with a continuous flow of co-workers seeking IT support on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
What is a Computer Technician?
What Does a Computer Technician Do
There are certain skills that many computer technicians have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed customer-service skills, listening skills and problem-solving skills.
How To Become a Computer Technician
If you're interested in becoming a computer technician, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 39.8% of computer technicians have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 3.4% of computer technicians have master's degrees. Even though some computer technicians have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Computer Technician Career Paths
As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a computer technician can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as technical support specialist, progress to a title such as systems administrator and then eventually end up with the title information technology manager.
Average Salary for a Computer Technician
What Am I Worth?
States With The Most Computer Technician Jobs
Mouse over a state to see the number of active computer technician jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where computer technicians earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Number Of Computer Technician Jobs By State
Top Colleges for Computer Technicians
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
2. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
4. University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA • Private
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
6. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
7. North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC • Private
8. Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ • Private
9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
10. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY • Private
Top Skills For a Computer Technician
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 12.6% of computer technicians listed customer service on their resume, but soft skills such as customer-service skills and listening skills are important as well.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Computer Technician Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Computer Technician templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Computer Technician resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Computer Technician Demographics
Computer Technician Gender Distribution
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among computer technicians, 13.0% of them are women, while 87.0% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among computer technicians is White, which makes up 59.7% of all computer technicians.
- The most common foreign language among computer technicians is Spanish at 57.2%.
Work Experience Programs For Computer Technicians
Virtual work experience programs replicate work at top companies and help you gain the skills to be successful when applying and working there. In only a few hours, learn the relevant tools necessary to complete a typical work day at that company. Virtual work experience programs are 100% free, open-access, and self-paced. No experience or application is required!
Company: Accenture UK
Cost: Free
Duration: 5.75-8 hours
Company: Standard Bank
Cost: Free
Duration: 4-4.5 hours
Company: Blackbird Australia
Cost: Free
Duration: 5-10 hours
Company: Walmart India
Cost: Free
Duration: 3.5-4 hours
Company: Standard Bank
Cost: Free
Duration: 4.5-5.5 hours
Company: Accenture North America
Cost: Free
Duration: 5-6 hours
Company: Electronic Arts
Cost: Free
Duration: 4-6 hours
Online Courses For Computer Technician That You May Like
This course provides foundational understanding of how computers process information through hardware and software. You will investigate the world of Information Technology (IT) and survey hardware components, mobile devices, operating systems, programs and apps, network fundamentals, the Internet, and touch on security and ethics...
Explore cloud computing basics without installing anything! This course is designed for semi-technical and business learners, providing a solid foundation of cloud computing basics. Learners will build an understanding of how software as a service (SaaS) works as well. The modules in this course cover cloud computing basics, considerations for SaaS adoption, techniques for SaaS success and growth, as well as provide an exploratory SaaS experience for learners. To allow for a truly hands-on,...
In this course, you will learn the following essential computer skills for the digital age: Major hardware components of a computer system Different types of software on a computer system Photo Editing using GIMP Word processing applications, including MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint...
Best States For a Computer Technician
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a computer technician. The best states for people in this position are Virginia, Oregon, California, and Colorado. Computer technicians make the most in Virginia with an average salary of $48,793. Whereas in Oregon and California, they would average $48,208 and $47,651, respectively. While computer technicians would only make an average of $44,953 in Colorado, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. Virginia
$48,793
Avg. Salary
2. Delaware
$43,487
Avg. Salary
3. Colorado
$44,953
Avg. Salary
How Do Computer Technician Rate Their Jobs?
5.0
5.0
Desktop Support • April 2020What do you like the most about working as Computer Technician?
I really love technical job which is hands on. Show MoreWhat do you NOT like?
I don’t too much simple tickets Show MoreTop Computer Technician Employers
Most Common Employers For Computer Technician
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IBM | $75,321 | $36.21 | 262 |
| 2 | Solectron Corp | $69,419 | $33.37 | 139 |
| 3 | Dell | $62,780 | $30.18 | 295 |
| 4 | Unisys | $56,231 | $27.03 | 194 |
| 5 | Lockheed Martin | $52,113 | $25.05 | 95 |
| 6 | CompUSA | $46,991 | $22.59 | 284 |
| 7 | Tektronix | $43,852 | $21.08 | 291 |
| 8 | Kforce | $40,240 | $19.35 | 137 |
| 9 | Avnet | $39,885 | $19.18 | 96 |
| 10 | SmartSource Rentals | $38,865 | $18.69 | 109 |
Computer Technician Videos
Becoming a Computer Technician FAQs
How Long Does It Take To Become A Computer Technician?
It takes about one to four years to become a computer technician after high school. Depending on what postsecondary education or certifications you earn, it can take more or less time.
Most computer technicians have a bachelor's or associate's degree in computer science or a related field like computer information systems and information technology.
Is A Computer Technician A Good Career?
Yes, being a computer technician is a good career to start with if you like working with computers. However, you may consider gaining experience and honing your skills to advance to a higher position since computer technicians don't get paid highly.
What Qualifications Do You Need To Be A Computer Technician?
The qualifications you need to be a computer technician are, at minimum, a high school diploma and certifications to prove your skills.
Most computer technicians have a bachelor's or associate's degree in computer science or a related field like computer information systems and information technology.