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The differences between computer technicians and computer consultants 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 technician and a computer consultant. Additionally, a computer consultant has an average salary of $94,331, which is higher than the $39,767 average annual salary of a computer technician.
The top three skills for a computer technician include customer service, desk support and network printers. The most important skills for a computer consultant are technical support, database, and linux.
| Computer Technician | Computer Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $39,767 | $94,331 |
| Hourly rate | $19.12 | $45.35 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 95,688 | 79,263 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Computer technicians are skilled information technology professionals who handle concerns related to computers. They are responsible for assisting clients in software installations, troubleshooting needs, and repair needs. Computer technicians handle the maintenance and repair of both software and hardware of computers. They should be able to quickly pinpoint the causes of computer problems that the client encounters. They should also be able to answer the clients' computer-related inquiries and provide advice on proper computer handling. Computer technicians should have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Computer Consultants assist a company's staff with computer system usage and issues. Computer consultants can be software programmers, hardware system installers, networking specialists, database specialists, and others.
Computer technicians and computer consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Technician | Computer Consultant | |
| Average salary | $39,767 | $94,331 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $55,000 | Between $67,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Alexandria, VA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Novartis |
| Best paying industry | Government | Finance |
There are a few differences between a computer technician and a computer consultant in terms of educational background:
| Computer Technician | Computer Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between computer technicians' and computer consultants' demographics:
| Computer Technician | Computer Consultant | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0% | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 13.2% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |