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The differences between configuration specialists and application 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 configuration specialist and an application specialist. Additionally, an application specialist has an average salary of $84,635, which is higher than the $77,122 average annual salary of a configuration specialist.
The top three skills for a configuration specialist include troubleshoot, system configuration and configuration management. The most important skills for an application specialist are customer service, customer satisfaction, and technical support.
| Configuration Specialist | Application Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $77,122 | $84,635 |
| Hourly rate | $37.08 | $40.69 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 50,788 | 96,980 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A configuration specialist is responsible for preparing computer applications, systems, and software for use. Your duties include assisting in the development of software, assisting in the setup of computer software, and organizing and conducting training on how to use the software. In addition, you will assist in the development and implementation of configuration management procedures, ensuring data integrity, quality, and security in the configuration management database. You will also be responsible for evaluating team members' performance and provide recommendations for improvements.
An application specialist is responsible for maintaining the optimal performance of system applications, ensuring smooth navigation by upgrading the features of existing applications, and performing multiple diagnostic tests before releasing the applications to the digital marketplace. Application specialists work closely with the design engineers to improve system codes, verify the efficiency of network infrastructure, and adjusting application functions based on the clients' specifications and business' needs. They should always consider the budget goals, target end-users, and current market trends to design applications, meeting users' demands and public interests.
Configuration specialists and application specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Configuration Specialist | Application Specialist | |
| Average salary | $77,122 | $84,635 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $108,000 | Between $60,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Bed Bath & Beyond | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a configuration specialist and an application specialist in terms of educational background:
| Configuration Specialist | Application Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between configuration specialists' and application specialists' demographics:
| Configuration Specialist | Application Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.5% Female, 40.5% | Male, 53.7% Female, 46.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 12.6% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 11.1% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |