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The differences between information technology specialists and information engineers 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 specialist and an information engineer. Additionally, an information engineer has an average salary of $105,003, which is higher than the $81,241 average annual salary of an information technology specialist.
The top three skills for an information technology specialist include customer service, troubleshoot and computer system. The most important skills for an information engineer are customer service, linux, and troubleshoot.
| Information Technology Specialist | Information Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $81,241 | $105,003 |
| Hourly rate | $39.06 | $50.48 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 122,519 | 151,357 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
An information engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency of computer systems and network infrastructure, performing configuration to boost the optimal performance of the technology systems. Information engineers assist end-users in resolving network issues, identifying the source of inconsistencies, and create resolution reports for reference to avoid reoccurrence. They also design new network systems according to business needs and client specifications, running multiple diagnostic tests to ensure effectiveness before the release of final deliverables. An information engineer should have excellent technical skills, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes.
Information technology specialists and information engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Specialist | Information Engineer | |
| Average salary | $81,241 | $105,003 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $113,000 | Between $78,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information technology specialist and an information engineer in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Specialist | Information Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between information technology specialists' and information engineers' demographics:
| Information Technology Specialist | Information Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.8% Female, 22.2% | Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2% |
| 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, 7.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.6% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |