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The differences between information technology generalists and information technology/support technicians 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/support technician. Additionally, an information technology generalist has an average salary of $63,551, which is higher than the $45,591 average annual salary of an information technology/support technician.
The top three skills for an information technology generalist include printers, troubleshoot and computer system. The most important skills for an information technology/support technician are customer service, troubleshoot, and computer system.
| Information Technology Generalist | Information Technology/Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $63,551 | $45,591 |
| Hourly rate | $30.55 | $21.92 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 125,307 | 161,748 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| 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) support technician is an individual who is responsible for providing support and troubleshoots software and hardware problems faced by customers. As for larger organizations that have their own IT department, technicians must work together internally with their IT staff members. IT support technicians are involved in inspecting and resolving minor local area network and wireless network issues, which include TCP/IP, DHCP, and VPN. They are also required to obtain an associate's degree in computer science or related field.
Information technology generalists and information technology/support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Generalist | Information Technology/Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $63,551 | $45,591 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $99,000 | Between $31,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Arlington, VA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | Data | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information technology generalist and an information technology/support technician in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Generalist | Information Technology/Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between information technology generalists' and information technology/support technicians' demographics:
| Information Technology Generalist | Information Technology/Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% | Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6% |
| 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, 10.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 13.2% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |