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The differences between information technology generalists and information technology administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an information technology generalist and an information technology administrator. Additionally, an information technology administrator has an average salary of $73,195, which is higher than the $63,551 average annual salary of an information technology generalist.
The top three skills for an information technology generalist include printers, troubleshoot and computer system. The most important skills for an information technology administrator are customer service, troubleshoot, and linux.
| Information Technology Generalist | Information Technology Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $63,551 | $73,195 |
| Hourly rate | $30.55 | $35.19 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 125,307 | 159,499 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An information technology generalist performs a variety of tasks in a company. They may install and upgrade software, establish networks and systems, troubleshoot problems, perform regular maintenance checks, and repair systems and networks as needed. There are also instances where they may provide technical support to clients and employees, handle calls and correspondence, coordinate with different departments, oversee data security and recovery plans, and develop strategies to improve a company's information technology operations while adhering to its policies and regulations.
An Information Technology (IT) administrator is an individual responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of an organization's IT systems and ensuring that the systems are running effectively. IT administrators must conduct consistent analyses of the computer system and install updates when needed. They are required to assess the organization's security programs and run the system for viruses and spyware. IT administrators also extend support to the organization's end-users and train them on desktop applications.
Information technology generalists and information technology administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Generalist | Information Technology Administrator | |
| Average salary | $63,551 | $73,195 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $99,000 | Between $50,000 And $105,000 |
| Highest paying City | Arlington, VA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Data | Databricks |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between an information technology generalist and an information technology administrator in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Generalist | Information Technology Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between information technology generalists' and information technology administrators' demographics:
| Information Technology Generalist | Information Technology Administrator | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 11.9% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |