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The differences between information technology specialists and information technology 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 specialist and an information technology technician. Additionally, an information technology specialist has an average salary of $81,241, which is higher than the $49,031 average annual salary of an information technology technician.
The top three skills for an information technology specialist include customer service, troubleshoot and computer system. The most important skills for an information technology technician are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $81,241 | $49,031 |
| Hourly rate | $39.06 | $23.57 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 122,519 | 118,881 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| 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 technology technician, also known as an IT technician, is responsible for ensuring that all computer systems in a company or organization are running smoothly and efficiently. Their duties primarily revolve around installing and maintaining systems, including software and hardware, and resolving any issues. They also provide technical support such as troubleshooting, navigation, and even system upgrades. Furthermore, an information technology technician can choose whether to work for a company or independently.
Information technology specialists and information technology technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Technician | |
| Average salary | $81,241 | $49,031 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $113,000 | Between $28,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Cravath | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between an information technology specialist and an information technology technician in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between information technology specialists' and information technology technicians' demographics:
| Information Technology Specialist | Information Technology Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.8% Female, 22.2% | Male, 84.8% Female, 15.2% |
| 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, 10.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 11.8% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |