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The differences between information technology specialists and analysts 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 technology specialist, becoming an analyst takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an information technology specialist has an average salary of $81,241, which is higher than the $73,007 average annual salary of an analyst.
The top three skills for an information technology specialist include customer service, troubleshoot and computer system. The most important skills for an analyst are customer service, troubleshoot, and data analysis.
| Information Technology Specialist | Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $81,241 | $73,007 |
| Hourly rate | $39.06 | $35.10 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 122,519 | 253,138 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
Analysts are employees or individual contributors with a vast experience in a particular field that help the organization address challenges. They help the organization improve processes, policies, and other operations protocol by studying the current processes in place and determining the effectiveness of those processes. They also research industry trends and data to make sound inferences and recommendations on what the company should do to improve their numbers. Analysts recommend business solutions and often help the organization roll out these solutions. They ensure that the proposed action plans are effective and produce the desired results.
Information technology specialists and analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Specialist | Analyst | |
| Average salary | $81,241 | $73,007 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $113,000 | Between $53,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information technology specialist and an analyst in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Specialist | Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between information technology specialists' and analysts' demographics:
| Information Technology Specialist | Analyst | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.8% Female, 22.2% | Male, 52.4% Female, 47.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 12% |