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The differences between software specialists and technical specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a software specialist, becoming a technical specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a technical specialist has an average salary of $88,773, which is higher than the $84,009 average annual salary of a software specialist.
The top three skills for a software specialist include C++, C # and database. The most important skills for a technical specialist are customer service, technical support, and patients.
| Software Specialist | Technical Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $84,009 | $88,773 |
| Hourly rate | $40.39 | $42.68 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 264,307 | 121,151 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Software Specialist designs and develops computer software and operating systems, establishing policies and protocols to ensure quality and data security. They function as a member of a company or an organization's information technology department. They also utilize their expertise by assessing and reviewing existing software, identifying its strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions against vulnerable areas. Most of the time, a software specialist directly communicates with clients to determine their software needs and preferences, regularly coordinating to ensure client satisfaction and smooth workflow.
The role of technical specialists is to provide technical support for applications and programs to staff members and customers within an organization. They train staff and customers on products and apps and offer advice on the best practices for utilizing technical programs and applications. They also design training materials to teach other staff members the most effective methods of using its technology. It is also their job to reduce company costs by looking for ways to improve productivity and lessen expenses.
Software specialists and technical specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Specialist | Technical Specialist | |
| Average salary | $84,009 | $88,773 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $115,000 | Between $62,000 And $126,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | Delaware |
| Best paying company | American Express | Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Technology |
There are a few differences between a software specialist and a technical specialist in terms of educational background:
| Software Specialist | Technical Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between software specialists' and technical specialists' demographics:
| Software Specialist | Technical Specialist | |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.2% Female, 32.8% | Male, 71.2% Female, 28.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 12.5% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |