Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between information technology instructors and information technology 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 information technology instructor and an information technology specialist. Additionally, an information technology specialist has an average salary of $81,241, which is higher than the $56,240 average annual salary of an information technology instructor.
The top three skills for an information technology instructor include security +, curriculum development and professional development. The most important skills for an information technology specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and computer system.
| Information Technology Instructor | Information Technology Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $56,240 | $81,241 |
| Hourly rate | $27.04 | $39.06 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 100,188 | 122,519 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An information technology instructor specializes in sharing their information technology expertise through classroom instructions. They may teach at vocational schools, high schools, or colleges where they are responsible for developing lesson and coursework plans, organizing activities, conducting tests and examinations, and assisting students in areas that they find difficult. They may also manage computer laboratories and coordinate directly with technicians and other staff. Moreover, an information technology instructor monitors the progress of students, all while maintaining a healthy and safe learning environment for everyone.
An Information Technology Specialist, also known as a Computer Professional or IT Specialist, is responsible for the computer support of an establishment or individual. Most of the duties require extensive and proactive knowledge of Information Technology, such as in the aspects of network and systems administration, security and information, hardware and software management, troubleshooting, and more. The tasks of an IT Specialist are diverse. It is not limited to installation or activation, as it also involves monitoring, management, and analyzation.
Information technology instructors and information technology specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Instructor | Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average salary | $56,240 | $81,241 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $73,000 | Between $58,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | California |
| Best paying company | San Jose State University | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information technology instructor and an information technology specialist in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Instructor | Information Technology Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between information technology instructors' and information technology specialists' demographics:
| Information Technology Instructor | Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.9% Female, 27.1% | Male, 77.8% Female, 22.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 12.1% White, 54.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 11.9% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |