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The differences between program support technicians and computer support 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 program support technician and a computer support technician. Additionally, a computer support technician has an average salary of $41,852, which is higher than the $36,653 average annual salary of a program support technician.
The top three skills for a program support technician include program support, data entry and DMV. The most important skills for a computer support technician are customer service, technical support, and computer support.
| Program Support Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $36,653 | $41,852 |
| Hourly rate | $17.62 | $20.12 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 160,368 | 121,180 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Program support technicians require administrative experience and skills in communication, organization, and proficiency with office software to do their best. This career choice demands showcasing support for users by answering their questions, resolving technical issues, and maintaining the network, software, and computer equipment of the respective company.
A computer support technician is responsible for diagnosing and resolving computer and network issues, identifying the source of malfunctions, and improving infrastructure to avoid downtimes and operational delays. Computer support technicians manage the efficiency of all equipment and peripherals for the computers, assist in installing components, and keeping adequate resources or alternatives for defective items. They also recommend minimal costs technology materials and create troubleshooting manuals for reference, ensuring that the network processes adhere to internal guidelines and regulations.
Program support technicians and computer support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Support Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $36,653 | $41,852 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $52,000 | Between $34,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Long Beach, CA | Lompoc, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Mandiant | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a program support technician and a computer support technician in terms of educational background:
| Program Support Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between program support technicians' and computer support technicians' demographics:
| Program Support Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 9.6% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 11.7% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |