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The differences between remote support specialists 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 remote support specialist and a computer support technician. Additionally, a remote support specialist has an average salary of $43,180, which is higher than the $41,852 average annual salary of a computer support technician.
The top three skills for a remote support specialist include customer service, PC and technical support. The most important skills for a computer support technician are customer service, technical support, and computer support.
| Remote Support Specialist | Computer Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $43,180 | $41,852 |
| Hourly rate | $20.76 | $20.12 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 129,512 | 121,180 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A remote support specialist is responsible for assisting customers and end-users on their network and system issues through electronic communications. These support specialists diagnose technical problems by analyzing customers' statements and conduct immediate troubleshooting procedures, advising clients the instructions to prevent the reoccurrence of system failures. They also recommend system upgrades and installation to boost the system's optimization and operational efficiency. A remote support specialist must have excellent technical and communication skills, especially in writing resolution reports and collaborating with the technical team for process improvement techniques.
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.
Remote support specialists and computer support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Remote Support Specialist | Computer Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $43,180 | $41,852 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $61,000 | Between $34,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Lompoc, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | CDM Smith | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a remote support specialist and a computer support technician in terms of educational background:
| Remote Support Specialist | Computer Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between remote support specialists' and computer support technicians' demographics:
| Remote Support Specialist | Computer Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.3% Female, 38.7% | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 10.9% White, 55.3% 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% |