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The differences between implementation specialists and operations 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 an implementation specialist and an operations support specialist. Additionally, an implementation specialist has an average salary of $56,545, which is higher than the $44,233 average annual salary of an operations support specialist.
The top three skills for an implementation specialist include client expectations, customer service and business processes. The most important skills for an operations support specialist are operations support, customer service, and data entry.
| Implementation Specialist | Operations Support Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $56,545 | $44,233 |
| Hourly rate | $27.19 | $21.27 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 50,975 | 176,034 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| 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.
The duties of an operations support specialist depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around addressing issues and concerns, troubleshooting, and conducting corrective measures, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations. They may also evaluate the processes in a company, identifying vulnerabilities, and recommending improvements. Furthermore, an operations support specialist must also perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and presentations, arranging schedules, assessing workforce performance, and maintaining accurate records.
Implementation specialists and operations support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Implementation Specialist | Operations Support Specialist | |
| Average salary | $56,545 | $44,233 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $87,000 | Between $27,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | KLA | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an implementation specialist and an operations support specialist in terms of educational background:
| Implementation Specialist | Operations Support Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between implementation specialists' and operations support specialists' demographics:
| Implementation Specialist | Operations Support Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.3% Female, 50.7% | Male, 44.0% Female, 56.0% |
| 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, 12.0% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |