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The differences between information technology/support technicians and network support 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/support technician and a network support technician. Additionally, a network support technician has an average salary of $48,622, 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 technician include customer service, troubleshoot and computer system. The most important skills for a network support technician are troubleshoot, technical support, and customer service.
| Information Technology/Support Technician | Network Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $45,591 | $48,622 |
| Hourly rate | $21.92 | $23.38 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 161,748 | 120,245 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A network support technician specializes in optimizing a company's information technology (IT) networks for a smooth and efficient workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around addressing issues and concerns, troubleshooting, installing systems, executing upgrades, conducting diagnostic tests, and performing corrective measures as needed. They must also coordinate with staff in developing new IT systems, evaluate existing networks for areas needing improvement, and develop protocols while adhering to the company's policies and regulations. Furthermore, as a network support technician, it is essential to maintain regular network maintenance checks to ensure the security and safety of company data.
Information technology/support technicians and network support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology/Support Technician | Network Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $45,591 | $48,622 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $66,000 | Between $38,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Troy, NY |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information technology/support technician and a network support technician in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology/Support Technician | Network Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between information technology/support technicians' and network support technicians' demographics:
| Information Technology/Support Technician | Network Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6% | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.7% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |