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The differences between field 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 technician, becoming a computer technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a computer technician has an average salary of $39,767, which is higher than the $37,520 average annual salary of a field technician.
The top three skills for a field technician include customer service, ladders and test equipment. The most important skills for a computer technician are customer service, desk support, and network printers.
| Field Technician | Computer Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,520 | $39,767 |
| Hourly rate | $18.04 | $19.12 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 123,149 | 95,688 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A field technician is responsible for providing technical and maintenance support for the customers by area visits. Field technicians' duties include diagnosing technical problems, replacing malfunction components, upgrading systems for efficiency, running equipment tests to ensure stability, creating draft reports of performed processes, utilizing vehicles and other tools safely, following client's specifications on operating equipment, and adhering to the safety standards. A field technician must have excellent communication and decision-making skills, as well as extensive knowledge of the technological industry.
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 technicians and computer technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Technician | Computer Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,520 | $39,767 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $48,000 | Between $28,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Alexandria, VA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Virginia |
| Best paying company | DCP Midstream | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Government |
There are a few differences between a field technician and a computer technician in terms of educational background:
| Field Technician | Computer Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | - | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between field technicians' and computer technicians' demographics:
| Field Technician | Computer Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.5% Female, 11.5% | Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 71.6% 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% |