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The differences between junior systems administrators and 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 systems administrator and an information technology specialist. Additionally, an information technology specialist has an average salary of $81,241, which is higher than the $62,225 average annual salary of a junior systems administrator.
The top three skills for a junior systems administrator include windows server, troubleshoot and technical support. The most important skills for an information technology specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and computer system.
| Junior Systems Administrator | Information Technology Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $62,225 | $81,241 |
| Hourly rate | $29.92 | $39.06 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 154,134 | 122,519 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A junior systems administrator is primarily responsible for handling and maintaining systems for users while under the supervision of a more experienced systems administrator. Their responsibilities often revolve around assisting senior administrators, troubleshooting support, providing installations and configurations, and handling inquiries and concerns, providing them with corrective measures. Aside from support tasks, one may also have administrative duties such as producing reports and presentations, managing schedules, and maintaining accurate data of all transactions. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to all the policies and regulations of the company.
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.
Junior systems administrators and information technology specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Systems Administrator | Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average salary | $62,225 | $81,241 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $74,000 | Between $58,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Jacobs Engineering Group | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a junior systems administrator and an information technology specialist in terms of educational background:
| Junior Systems Administrator | Information Technology Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between junior systems administrators' and information technology specialists' demographics:
| Junior Systems Administrator | Information Technology Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6% | Male, 77.8% Female, 22.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 12.1% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |