Post job

Computer test technician vs computer support specialist

The differences between computer test technicians and computer 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 test technician and a computer support specialist. Additionally, a computer support specialist has an average salary of $63,926, which is higher than the $44,148 average annual salary of a computer test technician.

The top three skills for a computer test technician include troubleshoot, PC and ESD. The most important skills for a computer support specialist are computer support, troubleshoot, and technical support.

Computer test technician vs computer support specialist overview

Computer Test TechnicianComputer Support Specialist
Yearly salary$44,148$63,926
Hourly rate$21.23$30.73
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs53,180114,029
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Computer test technician vs computer support specialist salary

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

Computer Test TechnicianComputer Support Specialist
Average salary$44,148$63,926
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $63,000Between $44,000 And $91,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Google
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between computer test technician and computer support specialist education

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

Computer Test TechnicianComputer Support Specialist
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringComputer Science
Most common collegeNortheastern UniversityStanford University

Computer test technician vs computer support specialist demographics

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

Computer Test TechnicianComputer Support Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 84.4% Female, 15.6%Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 15.0% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between computer test technician and computer support specialist duties and responsibilities

Computer test technician example responsibilities.

  • Recreate and manage company website, maintain regular updates, manage DNS servers, administrate e-mail and outlook exchange server.
  • Assemble and test USB's.
  • Install, maintain, test, adjust, troubleshoot and repair relay and control equipment.
  • Assist other computer technicians as needed on complex PC assembly, integration and configuration projects.
  • Integrate and configure a wide variety of PC hardware, operating systems, software and peripherals.
  • Install and troubleshot hardware of laptops, printers, cameras, and other various computer-relate peripherals.
  • Show more

Computer support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Monitor and manage end-user LAN/WLAN connectivity, and utilize diagnostic tools for monitoring and testing physical networking performance.
  • Interface daily with customers providing hardware and software support for a relational database design and written in INGRES using SQL.
  • Perform domain registration, connect peripheral equipment, and troubleshoot workstations/blackberries remotely using SMS application.
  • Deploy new machines, installing OS, applications, drivers, and network configurations.
  • Participate in vulnerability resolution for both OS and specific applications on the OIG network.
  • Establish a new process for imaging machines using Linux and write documentation for it.
  • Show more

Computer test technician vs computer support specialist skills

Common computer test technician skills
  • Troubleshoot, 19%
  • PC, 15%
  • ESD, 13%
  • Windows, 11%
  • Test Results, 7%
  • Desktop Computers, 7%
Common computer support specialist skills
  • Computer Support, 8%
  • Troubleshoot, 7%
  • Technical Support, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Desk Support, 5%
  • Computer System, 5%

Browse computer and mathematical jobs