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Network communications technician vs hardware technician

The differences between network communications 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 network communications technician and a hardware technician. Additionally, a network communications technician has an average salary of $51,650, which is higher than the $47,851 average annual salary of a hardware technician.

The top three skills for a network communications technician include regular monitoring, routers and switches. The most important skills for a hardware technician are customer service, technical support, and network printers.

Network communications technician vs hardware technician overview

Network Communications TechnicianHardware Technician
Yearly salary$51,650$47,851
Hourly rate$24.83$23.01
Growth rate5%10%
Number of jobs52,65785,174
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4342
Years of experience22

Network communications technician vs hardware technician salary

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

Network Communications TechnicianHardware Technician
Average salary$51,650$47,851
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $72,000Between $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 network communications technician and hardware technician education

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

Network Communications TechnicianHardware Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringComputer Science
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Network communications technician vs hardware technician demographics

Here are the differences between network communications technicians' and hardware technicians' demographics:

Network Communications TechnicianHardware Technician
Average age4342
Gender ratioMale, 78.2% Female, 21.8%Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 8.7% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%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 Percentage9%11%

Differences between network communications technician and hardware technician duties and responsibilities

Network communications technician example responsibilities.

  • Maintain and manage office-wide LAN.
  • Engineer and manage creation of co-registration Java modules for integration with Akamai streaming servers.
  • Help identify customer issues with their switches and routers and provide on solutions.
  • Perform trouble correlation for voice, voip, data and video network problems using ViryNet ticketing system.
  • Install, operate and maintain LAN terminals and cabling.
  • Verify network routers perform and meet engineering standards prior to field installation.
  • Show more

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.
  • Show more

Network communications technician vs hardware technician skills

Common network communications technician skills
  • Regular Monitoring, 8%
  • Routers, 8%
  • Switches, 8%
  • Windows, 7%
  • Network Equipment, 6%
  • Network Communications, 6%
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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