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The differences between information systems technicians and hardware technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an information systems technician, becoming a hardware technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a hardware technician has an average salary of $47,851, which is higher than the $46,346 average annual salary of an information systems technician.
The top three skills for an information systems technician include customer service, troubleshoot and technical support. The most important skills for a hardware technician are customer service, technical support, and network printers.
| Information Systems Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $46,346 | $47,851 |
| Hourly rate | $22.28 | $23.01 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 173,424 | 85,174 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
A hardware technician is typically in charge of providing technical support to clients or employees, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. In a company setting, a hardware technician is responsible for performing initial assessments on computer hardware, troubleshooting, diagnosing problems, and providing step by step solutions to solve the issues. They may also perform corrective repairs on problems and conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure the quality of equipment. Furthermore, as a hardware technician, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Information systems technicians and hardware technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Systems Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Average salary | $46,346 | $47,851 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $74,000 | Between $32,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rahway, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information systems technician and a hardware technician in terms of educational background:
| Information Systems Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between information systems technicians' and hardware technicians' demographics:
| Information Systems Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.6% Female, 26.4% | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |