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The differences between systems administrators and information systems technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a systems administrator, becoming an information systems technician takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a systems administrator has an average salary of $77,156, which is higher than the $46,346 average annual salary of an information systems technician.
The top three skills for a systems administrator include linux, troubleshoot and windows server. The most important skills for an information systems technician are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Systems Administrator | Information Systems Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $77,156 | $46,346 |
| Hourly rate | $37.09 | $22.28 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 134,500 | 173,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
An information systems technician is responsible for maintaining the efficiency of various network systems' performance. Information systems technicians provide network troubleshooting, upgrading systems for optimization, maintaining the security of databases, managing the interaction of networks, and inspecting and troubleshooting system inconsistencies. Additional duties include creating network designs based on clients' specifications, configuring software and hardware applications, and creating reports on system issues and resolutions. An information systems technician must have excellent knowledge of information systems procedures, programming languages, detecting malfunctions, and making resolutions promptly.
Systems administrators and information systems technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Administrator | Information Systems Technician | |
| Average salary | $77,156 | $46,346 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $100,000 | Between $28,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Rahway, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Government |
There are a few differences between a systems administrator and an information systems technician in terms of educational background:
| Systems Administrator | Information Systems Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between systems administrators' and information systems technicians' demographics:
| Systems Administrator | Information Systems Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% | Male, 73.6% Female, 26.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |