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The differences between remote support specialists and installation specialists 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 an installation specialist. Additionally, an installation specialist has an average salary of $49,602, which is higher than the $43,180 average annual salary of a remote support specialist.
The top three skills for a remote support specialist include customer service, PC and technical support. The most important skills for an installation specialist are customer service, ladders, and scaffolding.
| Remote Support Specialist | Installation Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $43,180 | $49,602 |
| Hourly rate | $20.76 | $23.85 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 129,512 | 103,003 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| 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.
Installation specialists are skilled employees who are responsible for installing various equipment, machinery, and computer systems for a company or clients. These specialists must work with HVAC contractors to install air-conditioning ductwork and materials in business establishments and homes. They should recommend corrective action when identifying electrical and environmental deficiencies to ensure optimized performance and reliability of equipment. Installation specialists must also test hardware and software to determine its efficiency and reliability as well as its compatibility with the existing system.
Remote support specialists and installation specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Remote Support Specialist | Installation Specialist | |
| Average salary | $43,180 | $49,602 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $61,000 | Between $33,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | CDM Smith | Technip USA Corporation |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a remote support specialist and an installation specialist in terms of educational background:
| Remote Support Specialist | Installation Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between remote support specialists' and installation specialists' demographics:
| Remote Support Specialist | Installation Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.3% Female, 38.7% | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% |
| 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, 11.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.1% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |