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The differences between software support specialists and systems 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 software support specialist and a systems specialist. Additionally, a systems specialist has an average salary of $86,020, which is higher than the $62,663 average annual salary of a software support specialist.
The top three skills for a software support specialist include customer service, software support and database. The most important skills for a systems specialist are customer service, veterans, and troubleshoot.
| Software Support Specialist | Systems Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $62,663 | $86,020 |
| Hourly rate | $30.13 | $41.36 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 122,134 | 127,812 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
The software support specialist works on installing, repairing, maintaining, and troubleshooting software systems used by customers. The software support specialist provides expert services for customers to resolve issues and problems. A software support specialist must have expertise in the software handled and can effectively provide easy to follow instructions for clients and customers to follow. Customer software support is essential to service customers' needs, especially in digital products prone to bugs and performance issues.
Systems specialists are professionals who maintain, troubleshoot, and install information and computer systems. They identify the software, data, and hardware needs of companies. Generally, they work in physically demanding indoor environments installing complicated networks. They manage, lead, and coordinate technical support for new software, upgrades, and products. Also, they configure systems for the users and assess data from different sources to make a decision.
Software support specialists and systems specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Support Specialist | Systems Specialist | |
| Average salary | $62,663 | $86,020 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $90,000 | Between $61,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Amdocs | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a software support specialist and a systems specialist in terms of educational background:
| Software Support Specialist | Systems Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between software support specialists' and systems specialists' demographics:
| Software Support Specialist | Systems Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% | Male, 74.2% Female, 25.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 10.7% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |