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The differences between information technology technicians and hardware 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 technician and a hardware technician. Additionally, an information technology technician has an average salary of $49,031, which is higher than the $47,851 average annual salary of a hardware technician.
The top three skills for an information technology technician include customer service, troubleshoot and technical support. The most important skills for a hardware technician are customer service, technical support, and network printers.
| Information Technology Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $49,031 | $47,851 |
| Hourly rate | $23.57 | $23.01 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 118,881 | 85,174 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A hardware technician is typically in charge of providing technical support to clients or employees, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. In a company setting, a hardware technician is responsible for performing initial assessments on computer hardware, troubleshooting, diagnosing problems, and providing step by step solutions to solve the issues. They may also perform corrective repairs on problems and conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure the quality of equipment. Furthermore, as a hardware technician, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Information technology technicians and hardware technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Average salary | $49,031 | $47,851 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $83,000 | Between $32,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Cravath | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information technology technician and a hardware technician in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between information technology technicians' and hardware technicians' demographics:
| Information Technology Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.8% Female, 15.2% | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |