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The differences between field service technicians and computer technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a field service technician, becoming a computer technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a field service technician has an average salary of $54,339, which is higher than the $39,767 average annual salary of a computer technician.
The top three skills for a field service technician include customer service, preventative maintenance and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for a computer technician are customer service, desk support, and network printers.
| Field Service Technician | Computer Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $54,339 | $39,767 |
| Hourly rate | $26.12 | $19.12 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 167,298 | 95,688 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
Field service technicians are skilled professionals who manage the technical needs of their clients outside the company's physical office space. They are usually on the field to visit their clients and check up on clients' equipment. Field service technicians are dispatched to provide technical support. They oversee installations, repairs, or maintenance activities. They ensure that all the work needed is done well. They also conduct diagnostic activities and troubleshooting. Field service technicians also supervise any updating or changes needed to be done in their clients' offices. They are expected to have good analytical skills, communication skills, and highly technical skills.
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.
Field service technicians and computer technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Service Technician | Computer Technician | |
| Average salary | $54,339 | $39,767 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $82,000 | Between $28,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Alexandria, VA |
| Highest paying state | California | Virginia |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between a field service technician and a computer technician in terms of educational background:
| Field Service Technician | Computer Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | - | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between field service technicians' and computer technicians' demographics:
| Field Service Technician | Computer Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7% | Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 1% | 11% |