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The differences between system technicians and systems administrators 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 systems administrator. Additionally, a systems administrator has an average salary of $77,156, 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 systems administrator are linux, troubleshoot, and windows server.
| System Technician | Systems Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $43,410 | $77,156 |
| Hourly rate | $20.87 | $37.09 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 137,121 | 134,500 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| 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.
Systems administrators are employees who oversee information technology infrastructures in the office. They are skilled information technology professionals who are knowledgeable about the company's network systems and other technology-related infrastructures. They are responsible for installing, configuring, or updating network systems, software, and hardware. They also monitor the different systems and troubleshoot any issues that users may encounter. Systems administrators manage the access of users, ensure the security of the network, and address any challenges that users may have. They conduct repairs and routine maintenance to ensure that the systems in place are in the best shape.
System technicians and systems administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| System Technician | Systems Administrator | |
| Average salary | $43,410 | $77,156 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $67,000 | Between $59,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a system technician and a systems administrator in terms of educational background:
| System Technician | Systems Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between system technicians' and systems administrators' demographics:
| System Technician | Systems Administrator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% |
| 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, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 11.5% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |