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The differences between systems support specialists and computer 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 systems support specialist and a computer support specialist. Additionally, a computer support specialist has an average salary of $63,926, which is higher than the $61,744 average annual salary of a systems support specialist.
The top three skills for a systems support specialist include customer service, troubleshoot and technical support. The most important skills for a computer support specialist are computer support, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Systems Support Specialist | Computer Support Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $61,744 | $63,926 |
| Hourly rate | $29.68 | $30.73 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 159,364 | 114,029 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A systems support specialist is responsible for assisting end-users on system issues, including network configuration and improving network infrastructure. System support specialists implement network strategies alongside the whole technology team to boost the system's efficiency and optimal performance. They create resolution reports for reference and write recommendations to prevent system defects and inconsistencies. A systems support specialist also handles network installations and upgrades, requiring them to have excellent technical skills and knowledge of programming languages.
A Computer Support Specialist is responsible for providing the highest customer service for clients with technical and system issues, resolving network failures, and creating support tickets for IT personnel. Computer Support Specialists utilize various system tools and applications to diagnose end-users network issues and conduct immediate troubleshooting. They also help the IT staff design and improve system features and infrastructures and create instructional manuals for deliverables. A Computer Support Specialist must have excellent technical and communication skills to document customers' requests and identify system solutions.
Systems support specialists and computer support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Support Specialist | Computer Support Specialist | |
| Average salary | $61,744 | $63,926 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $91,000 | Between $44,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | Centreville, VA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | Washington |
| Best paying company | Koch Industries | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a systems support specialist and a computer support specialist in terms of educational background:
| Systems Support Specialist | Computer Support Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between systems support specialists' and computer support specialists' demographics:
| Systems Support Specialist | Computer Support Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.4% Female, 26.6% | Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |