Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between system 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 system technician and a computer support technician. Additionally, a system technician has an average salary of $43,410, which is higher than the $41,852 average annual salary of a computer support technician.
The top three skills for a system technician include customer service, hand tools and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a computer support technician are customer service, technical support, and computer support.
| System Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $43,410 | $41,852 |
| Hourly rate | $20.87 | $20.12 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 137,121 | 121,180 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A system technician is an individual responsible for supporting users with issues related to the computer system. System technicians conduct appropriate diagnostics on computer issues and must be able to explain technical issues to clients or team members. They should carry out tests on the system so that they can generate error reports to identify and fix any computer system problems. System technicians also can write and maintain computer programs and work with computers and electronics, including circuit boards, computer hardware and software, and computer processors.
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.
System technicians and computer support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| System Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $43,410 | $41,852 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $67,000 | Between $34,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Lompoc, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Government | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a system technician and a computer support technician in terms of educational background:
| System Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between system technicians' and computer support technicians' demographics:
| System Technician | Computer Support Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 9% | 11% |