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The differences between junior information technology specialists and senior information technology specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a junior information technology specialist and a senior information technology specialist. Additionally, a senior information technology specialist has an average salary of $103,478, which is higher than the $46,556 average annual salary of a junior information technology specialist.
The top three skills for a junior information technology specialist include troubleshoot, switches and NAT. The most important skills for a senior information technology specialist are customer service, database, and technical support.
| Junior Information Technology Specialist | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $46,556 | $103,478 |
| Hourly rate | $22.38 | $49.75 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 143,114 | 111,996 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A junior information technology specialist installs and repairs computer hardware and software systems in a company, ensuring quality and efficiency. Their responsibilities include handling computer components, developing test structures, troubleshooting issues, eliminating bugs, and performing security and maintenance checks to ensure that all networks and data are safe and secured. There are also instances when they must produce progress reports and train new members of the workforce. Moreover, they must provide technical support to employees while implementing the company's information technology policies and regulations.
A senior information technology specialist is responsible for handling technology systems and network issues, ensuring the efficiency and optimal performance of the database by configuration and improving network infrastructures. Senior information technology specialists also design computer systems and applications to support business functions and operations, depending on the requirements and budget limitations. They create resolution reports for reference and recommend strategic techniques to prevent the reoccurrence of defects and malfunctions. A senior information technology specialist must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in responding to the end-users' inquiries and concerns about the servers.
Junior information technology specialists and senior information technology specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Information Technology Specialist | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average salary | $46,556 | $103,478 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $57,000 | Between $78,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a junior information technology specialist and a senior information technology specialist in terms of educational background:
| Junior Information Technology Specialist | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between junior information technology specialists' and senior information technology specialists' demographics:
| Junior Information Technology Specialist | Senior Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.8% Female, 19.2% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 13.2% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 14.1% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |