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The differences between implementation specialists and application specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an implementation specialist and an application specialist. Additionally, an application specialist has an average salary of $84,635, which is higher than the $56,545 average annual salary of an implementation specialist.
The top three skills for an implementation specialist include client expectations, customer service and business processes. The most important skills for an application specialist are customer service, customer satisfaction, and technical support.
| Implementation Specialist | Application Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $56,545 | $84,635 |
| Hourly rate | $27.19 | $40.69 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 50,975 | 96,980 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
As the name entails, implementation specialists perform tasks related to the implementation of computer software and hardware, technical systems, or solutions. They are responsible for identifying clients' needs and determining how they will use the software or systems that they have acquired. They may also assist clients in setting up their equipment and perform additional tasks such as importing client data, creating customized reports, and modifying metrics. There are certain skills and qualifications to be considered to apply for this role, which includes a bachelor's degree in business, in-depth technical knowledge, and problem-solving skills.
An application specialist is responsible for maintaining the optimal performance of system applications, ensuring smooth navigation by upgrading the features of existing applications, and performing multiple diagnostic tests before releasing the applications to the digital marketplace. Application specialists work closely with the design engineers to improve system codes, verify the efficiency of network infrastructure, and adjusting application functions based on the clients' specifications and business' needs. They should always consider the budget goals, target end-users, and current market trends to design applications, meeting users' demands and public interests.
Implementation specialists and application specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Implementation Specialist | Application Specialist | |
| Average salary | $56,545 | $84,635 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $87,000 | Between $60,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Cheniere Energy | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an implementation specialist and an application specialist in terms of educational background:
| Implementation Specialist | Application Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between implementation specialists' and application specialists' demographics:
| Implementation Specialist | Application Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.3% Female, 50.7% | Male, 53.7% Female, 46.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 10.7% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 11.1% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |