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Contractor/technician vs hardware technician

The differences between contractor/technicians and hardware technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a contractor/technician and a hardware technician. Additionally, a contractor/technician has an average salary of $54,910, which is higher than the $47,851 average annual salary of a hardware technician.

The top three skills for a contractor/technician include PC, network printers and desktop support. The most important skills for a hardware technician are customer service, technical support, and network printers.

Contractor/technician vs hardware technician overview

Contractor/TechnicianHardware Technician
Yearly salary$54,910$47,851
Hourly rate$26.40$23.01
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs78,98085,174
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Contractor/technician vs hardware technician salary

Contractor/technicians and hardware technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Contractor/TechnicianHardware Technician
Average salary$54,910$47,851
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $90,000Between $32,000 And $71,000
Highest paying CitySacramento, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkDelaware
Best paying companyUnited Software GroupApple
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between contractor/technician and hardware technician education

There are a few differences between a contractor/technician and a hardware technician in terms of educational background:

Contractor/TechnicianHardware Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorBusinessComputer Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Contractor/technician vs hardware technician demographics

Here are the differences between contractor/technicians' and hardware technicians' demographics:

Contractor/TechnicianHardware Technician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 78.0% Female, 22.0%Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.8% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between contractor/technician and hardware technician duties and responsibilities

Contractor/technician example 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.
  • Set up, install, and troubleshot peripheral equipment.
  • Edit and create knowledge base articles, complete all work satisfactorily within SLA's.
  • Show more

Hardware technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage resource allocation and work scheduling for UNIX restatement administrators across all the shifts.
  • Manage all customer network equipment including routers, switches, WLC's, AP's, and firewalls.
  • Manage trouble ticket queues in order to keep tickets within SLA's and to expedite high level issues.
  • Work to troubleshoot OS and hardware issue on many computers and peripherals.
  • Test and troubleshoot: reset bios and perform power-on-self-test on servers and PCs, perform power on tests on various electronics.
  • Update LAN spreadsheets with appropriate computer information.
  • Show more

Contractor/technician vs hardware technician skills

Common contractor/technician skills
  • PC, 10%
  • Network Printers, 7%
  • Desktop Support, 6%
  • POS, 5%
  • Technical Assistance, 4%
  • SQL Server, 4%
Common hardware technician skills
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Technical Support, 5%
  • Network Printers, 5%
  • Desktop Support, 5%
  • Test Equipment, 4%
  • Switches, 4%

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