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Microcomputer technician vs hardware technician

The differences between microcomputer 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 a microcomputer technician and a hardware technician. Additionally, a hardware technician has an average salary of $47,851, which is higher than the $43,055 average annual salary of a microcomputer technician.

The top three skills for a microcomputer technician include PC, network printers and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a hardware technician are customer service, technical support, and network printers.

Microcomputer technician vs hardware technician overview

Microcomputer TechnicianHardware Technician
Yearly salary$43,055$47,851
Hourly rate$20.70$23.01
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs89,59885,174
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Microcomputer technician vs hardware technician salary

Microcomputer technicians and hardware technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Microcomputer TechnicianHardware Technician
Average salary$43,055$47,851
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $69,000Between $32,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Delaware
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between microcomputer technician and hardware technician education

There are a few differences between a microcomputer technician and a hardware technician in terms of educational background:

Microcomputer TechnicianHardware Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorInformation TechnologyComputer Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Microcomputer technician vs hardware technician demographics

Here are the differences between microcomputer technicians' and hardware technicians' demographics:

Microcomputer TechnicianHardware Technician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 86.8% Female, 13.2%Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.0% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.7% 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 Percentage11%11%

Differences between microcomputer technician and hardware technician duties and responsibilities

Microcomputer technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage user application access through Citrix.
  • Install, configure, maintain and troubleshoot microcomputers, laser printers, software and other computer-relate hardware.
  • Provide hands on support for all college technology resources, including workstations, servers, and telecommunications.
  • Interview, configure, deploy, and create backup files for monthly expire lease workstations and new user setup.
  • Diagnose and troubleshoot workstation connectivity issues.
  • Maintain government and/or vendor-manufacture telecommunications equipment, fiber optic modems, multiplexer, fiber optic/Ethernet cables, switches & telephone systems.
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Hardware technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage resource allocation and work scheduling for UNIX restatement administrators across all the shifts.
  • Manage all customer network equipment including routers, switches, WLC's, AP's, and firewalls.
  • Manage trouble ticket queues in order to keep tickets within SLA's and to expedite high level issues.
  • Work to troubleshoot OS and hardware issue on many computers and peripherals.
  • Test and troubleshoot: reset bios and perform power-on-self-test on servers and PCs, perform power on tests on various electronics.
  • Update LAN spreadsheets with appropriate computer information.
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Microcomputer technician vs hardware technician skills

Common microcomputer technician skills
  • PC, 10%
  • Network Printers, 9%
  • Troubleshoot, 7%
  • Technical Support, 5%
  • Windows Server, 4%
  • Software Support, 4%
Common hardware technician skills
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Technical Support, 5%
  • Network Printers, 5%
  • Desktop Support, 5%
  • Test Equipment, 4%
  • Switches, 4%

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