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The differences between professional technicians and computer 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 professional technician and a computer technician. Additionally, a professional technician has an average salary of $81,726, which is higher than the $39,767 average annual salary of a computer technician.
The top three skills for a professional technician include customer service, cloud and project management. The most important skills for a computer technician are customer service, desk support, and network printers.
| Professional Technician | Computer Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $81,726 | $39,767 |
| Hourly rate | $39.29 | $19.12 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 123,659 | 95,688 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A professional technician is responsible for handling the complexities of technical and mechanical systems, repair defective components, and recommend technical solutions to enhance the company's productivity and efficiency in delivering high-quality deliverables. Professional technicians must be highly skilled in analyzing schematics and blueprints to assemble components and perform troubleshooting. They also manage the adequacy of inventories, create purchase requests, and identify costs and expenses for repairs and installations. A professional technician must be highly communicative and organization, especially in handling tasks with utmost adherence to safety protocols and regulations.
Computer technicians are skilled information technology professionals who handle concerns related to computers. They are responsible for assisting clients in software installations, troubleshooting needs, and repair needs. Computer technicians handle the maintenance and repair of both software and hardware of computers. They should be able to quickly pinpoint the causes of computer problems that the client encounters. They should also be able to answer the clients' computer-related inquiries and provide advice on proper computer handling. Computer technicians should have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Professional technicians and computer technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Professional Technician | Computer Technician | |
| Average salary | $81,726 | $39,767 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $104,000 | Between $28,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Alexandria, VA |
| Highest paying state | California | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Government |
There are a few differences between a professional technician and a computer technician in terms of educational background:
| Professional Technician | Computer Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between professional technicians' and computer technicians' demographics:
| Professional Technician | Computer Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.1% Female, 27.9% | Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 12.8% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 11.1% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |