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The differences between software 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 software support technician and a computer support technician. Additionally, a software support technician has an average salary of $79,670, which is higher than the $41,852 average annual salary of a computer support technician.
The top three skills for a software support technician include customer service, troubleshoot and java. The most important skills for a computer support technician are customer service, technical support, and computer support.
| Software Support Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $79,670 | $41,852 |
| Hourly rate | $38.30 | $20.12 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 117,059 | 121,180 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A software support technician is responsible for resolving software application issues, diagnosing related system failures, and writing resolution reports for reference. Software support technicians must be highly-familiarized with the system's infrastructure and interface to immediately diagnose malfunctions and identify maintenance techniques to prevent the reoccurrence of downtimes and delays. They also assist the system engineers in the configuration and optimization of networks, including the installment of upgrades and patch updates. A software support technician must have excellent organizational and communication skills, especially in navigating computer tools and applications to create support tickets and fix the customers' issues efficiently.
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.
Software support technicians and computer support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Support Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $79,670 | $41,852 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $113,000 | Between $34,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Lompoc, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | RSM US | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a software support technician and a computer support technician in terms of educational background:
| Software Support Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between software support technicians' and computer support technicians' demographics:
| Software Support Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.8% Female, 26.2% | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 12.4% White, 54.6% 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% |