Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between information technology support managers and information technology/support technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become an information technology support manager, becoming an information technology/support technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an information technology support manager has an average salary of $104,424, which is higher than the $45,591 average annual salary of an information technology/support technician.
The top three skills for an information technology support manager include customer service, ITIL and project management. The most important skills for an information technology/support technician are customer service, troubleshoot, and computer system.
| Information Technology Support Manager | Information Technology/Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $104,424 | $45,591 |
| Hourly rate | $50.20 | $21.92 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 162,131 | 161,748 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 2 |
Information technology support manager primarily supervises information technology support staff, oversees system and software maintenance, and repairs. They assist with computer equipment installation and purchasing and maintaining a secure network and connectivity for users. It is part of their role to coordinate training and development for new technology users. Another vital role is they monitor online security for users and networks and takes appropriate steps to address possible security breaches if necessary. Moreover, they also develop contingency plans to address any equipment, power, or possible security failure to ensure the protection of technology and data.
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 support managers and information technology/support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Support Manager | Information Technology/Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $104,424 | $45,591 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $142,000 | Between $31,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | Clinica Sierra Vista | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information technology support manager and an information technology/support technician in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Support Manager | Information Technology/Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | 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 support managers' and information technology/support technicians' demographics:
| Information Technology Support Manager | Information Technology/Support Technician | |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.2% Female, 17.8% | Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 12.6% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |