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What is a contractor/technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Kate Marek Ph.D.
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The average contractor/technician salary is $54,910. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an business major. It usually takes 1-2 years of experience to become a contractor/technician. Contractor/technicians with a Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 10% and produce 83,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a contractor/technician?

Kate Marek Ph.D.Kate Marek Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Director and Professor, Dominican University

Choose an organization in tune with one's values. Look for a job in growth areas, such as data asset management, data analysis, etc.
ScoreContractor/TechnicianUS Average
Salary
4.3

Avg. Salary $54,910

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.7

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 10.84%

Black or African American 11.54%

Hispanic or Latino 15.65%

Unknown 5.34%

White 56.22%

Gender

female 22.01%

male 77.99%

Age - 41
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41
Stress level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Contractor/technician career paths

Key steps to become a contractor/technician

  1. Explore contractor/technician education requirements

    Most common contractor/technician degrees

    Bachelor's

    47.3 %

    Associate

    30.5 %

    High School Diploma

    8.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific contractor/technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    PC9.59%
    Network Printers6.58%
    Desktop Support6.03%
    POS4.54%
    Technical Assistance3.60%
  3. Complete relevant contractor/technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New contractor/technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a contractor/technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real contractor/technician resumes.
  4. Research contractor/technician duties and responsibilities

    • Develop Java base IAM system components to manage security and authorizations.
    • Utilize VMWare for testing various software/hardware configurations before deploying to production status.
    • Maintain government and/or vendor-manufacture telecommunications equipment, fiber optic modems, multiplexer, fiber optic/Ethernet cables, switches & telephone systems.
    • Install end user peripherals and troubleshot any issues.
  5. Prepare your contractor/technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your contractor/technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a contractor/technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable contractor/technician resume templates

    Build a professional contractor/technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your contractor/technician resume.
    Contractor/Technician Resume
    Contractor/Technician Resume
    Contractor/Technician Resume
    Contractor/Technician Resume
    Contractor/Technician Resume
    Contractor/Technician Resume
    Contractor/Technician Resume
    Contractor/Technician Resume
    Contractor/Technician Resume
  6. Apply for contractor/technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a contractor/technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first contractor/technician job

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Average contractor/technician salary

The average contractor/technician salary in the United States is $54,910 per year or $26 per hour. Contractor/technician salaries range between $33,000 and $90,000 per year.

Average contractor/technician salary
$54,910 Yearly
$26.40 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do contractor/technicians rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

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3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Contractor/technician reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023
Pros

You get to help a lot of people in many different ways as well as learning new things about technology

Cons

I have aids now due to the painfulness of sitting down all day


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022
Pros

Working with The people

Cons

There was nothing to like. Everyone was polite an hard workers


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

I decided to go to technical support because I've been fascinated by technology all my life and I love working with the people as well. I want to use my technical know-how to solve directly the problems that customers have. I want to be the person who makes life easier and more enjoyable for people who have had a problem. This is what I like most as a technical Support.

Cons

I don't like sitting around being inactive. So I'll keep my self always busy


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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