Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between software trainers and technical support 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 trainer and a technical support specialist. Additionally, a software trainer has an average salary of $68,647, which is higher than the $48,667 average annual salary of a technical support specialist.
The top three skills for a software trainer include software training, training materials and training classes. The most important skills for a technical support specialist are customer service, technical support, and troubleshoot.
| Software Trainer | Technical Support Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $68,647 | $48,667 |
| Hourly rate | $33.00 | $23.40 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 37,100 | 157,425 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.6 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Software Trainers are training specialists who teach computer programs and applications like desktop publishing programs, computer network systems software, and spreadsheets. They effectively explain the technical complexities of computer software. They plan, prepare, and research lessons for the trainees. They also check and assess the work of the students and give them feedback.
A technical support specialist is responsible for assisting customer's and businesses' concerns and system issues by performing troubleshooting and remote solutions. These specialists must have extensive knowledge of system applications, including software and hardware database to handle complex processes that might affect the end user's experience or the business' daily operations. Technical support specialists should maintain excellent communication skills to guide the client and business on solving network problems. They must also document concerns and progress promptly for reference and quality checks.
Software trainers and technical support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Trainer | Technical Support Specialist | |
| Average salary | $68,647 | $48,667 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $81,000 | Between $30,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Henry Schein | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Finance |
There are a few differences between a software trainer and a technical support specialist in terms of educational background:
| Software Trainer | Technical Support Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between software trainers' and technical support specialists' demographics:
| Software Trainer | Technical Support Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.3% Female, 55.7% | Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 10.8% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 11.3% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |