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Hardware specialist vs technical support specialist

The differences between hardware specialists and technical support 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 hardware specialist and a technical support specialist. Additionally, a hardware specialist has an average salary of $79,167, which is higher than the $48,667 average annual salary of a technical support specialist.

The top three skills for a hardware specialist include plumbing, configuration management and printers. The most important skills for a technical support specialist are customer service, technical support, and troubleshoot.

Hardware specialist vs technical support specialist overview

Hardware SpecialistTechnical Support Specialist
Yearly salary$79,167$48,667
Hourly rate$38.06$23.40
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs72,306157,425
Job satisfaction-4.6
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Hardware specialist vs technical support specialist salary

Hardware specialists and technical support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Hardware SpecialistTechnical Support Specialist
Average salary$79,167$48,667
Salary rangeBetween $55,000 And $112,000Between $30,000 And $76,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Meta
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between hardware specialist and technical support specialist education

There are a few differences between a hardware specialist and a technical support specialist in terms of educational background:

Hardware SpecialistTechnical Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorBusinessComputer Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Hardware specialist vs technical support specialist demographics

Here are the differences between hardware specialists' and technical support specialists' demographics:

Hardware SpecialistTechnical Support Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 87.7% Female, 12.3%Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 11.3% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between hardware specialist and technical support specialist duties and responsibilities

Hardware specialist example responsibilities.

  • Create, manage, and troubleshoot user network, email accounts, and distribution lists.
  • Lead effort to develop and maintain client's database by customizing existing computer information systems to support operating objectives.
  • Fix system issues using Linux and Unix commands.
  • Utilize SQL servers and databases per ticket requirements.
  • Handle filing of customer POs and complete company paperwork for records use.
  • Used Cisco web administration utility to reset VOIP phone settings for users.
  • Show more

Technical support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Implement hardware and software upgrades and maintain stability, usability, and security for desktop/laptop/mobile systems; achieve SLA's.
  • Manage all operating end-user software including JavaScript - updating/installing Java.
  • Install, configure and manage proprietary applications on Unix servers.
  • Manage large-scale PC deployments including site surveys involving verification of network activity and appropriate power availability.
  • Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.
  • Deploy and troubleshoot complex software installations in Microsoft and Linux environments.
  • Show more

Hardware specialist vs technical support specialist skills

Common hardware specialist skills
  • Plumbing, 56%
  • Configuration Management, 8%
  • Printers, 4%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Computer System, 3%
  • Troubleshoot, 3%
Common technical support specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Technical Support, 10%
  • Troubleshoot, 8%
  • Math, 4%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 3%
  • Phone Calls, 3%

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