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The differences between technical specialists and 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 technical specialist and a technician. Additionally, a technical specialist has an average salary of $88,773, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for a technical specialist include customer service, technical support and patients. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Technical Specialist | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $88,773 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $42.68 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 121,151 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
The role of technical specialists is to provide technical support for applications and programs to staff members and customers within an organization. They train staff and customers on products and apps and offer advice on the best practices for utilizing technical programs and applications. They also design training materials to teach other staff members the most effective methods of using its technology. It is also their job to reduce company costs by looking for ways to improve productivity and lessen expenses.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Technical specialists and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Specialist | Technician | |
| Average salary | $88,773 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $126,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a technical specialist and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Technical Specialist | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between technical specialists' and technicians' demographics:
| Technical Specialist | Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.2% Female, 28.8% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 12.5% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 2% |