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The differences between system technicians and hardware 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 hardware technician. Additionally, a hardware technician has an average salary of $47,851, which is higher than the $43,410 average annual salary of a system technician.
The top three skills for a system technician include customer service, hand tools and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a hardware technician are customer service, technical support, and network printers.
| System Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $43,410 | $47,851 |
| Hourly rate | $20.87 | $23.01 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 137,121 | 85,174 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| 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 hardware technician is typically in charge of providing technical support to clients or employees, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. In a company setting, a hardware technician is responsible for performing initial assessments on computer hardware, troubleshooting, diagnosing problems, and providing step by step solutions to solve the issues. They may also perform corrective repairs on problems and conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure the quality of equipment. Furthermore, as a hardware technician, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
System technicians and hardware technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| System Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Average salary | $43,410 | $47,851 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $67,000 | Between $32,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a system technician and a hardware technician in terms of educational background:
| System Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between system technicians' and hardware technicians' demographics:
| System Technician | Hardware Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |