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The differences between information systems administrators and information systems technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an information systems administrator, becoming an information systems technician takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an information systems administrator has an average salary of $79,194, which is higher than the $46,346 average annual salary of an information systems technician.
The top three skills for an information systems administrator include linux, troubleshoot and OS. The most important skills for an information systems technician are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Information Systems Administrator | Information Systems Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $79,194 | $46,346 |
| Hourly rate | $38.07 | $22.28 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 176,724 | 173,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Businesses today are mostly dependent heavily on the internet and computer systems for their daily transactions. The information systems administrator is a person that monitors, configures, and upgrades these systems to adapt to the constant advancement in technology. The information systems administrator maintains networks used inside the company, making access to information efficient and fast. A company with a fast and reliable information system will have an edge against competitive companies.
An information systems technician is responsible for maintaining the efficiency of various network systems' performance. Information systems technicians provide network troubleshooting, upgrading systems for optimization, maintaining the security of databases, managing the interaction of networks, and inspecting and troubleshooting system inconsistencies. Additional duties include creating network designs based on clients' specifications, configuring software and hardware applications, and creating reports on system issues and resolutions. An information systems technician must have excellent knowledge of information systems procedures, programming languages, detecting malfunctions, and making resolutions promptly.
Information systems administrators and information systems technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Systems Administrator | Information Systems Technician | |
| Average salary | $79,194 | $46,346 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $104,000 | Between $28,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Pleasanton, CA | Rahway, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Cadence Design Systems | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between an information systems administrator and an information systems technician in terms of educational background:
| Information Systems Administrator | Information Systems Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between information systems administrators' and information systems technicians' demographics:
| Information Systems Administrator | Information Systems Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.3% Female, 25.7% | Male, 73.6% Female, 26.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.7% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |