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Technologist trainee vs support specialist

The differences between technologist trainees and 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 technologist trainee and a support specialist. Additionally, a support specialist has an average salary of $40,782, which is higher than the $35,502 average annual salary of a technologist trainee.

The top three skills for a technologist trainee include customer service, hand tools and cleanliness. The most important skills for a support specialist are customer service, patients, and mental health.

Technologist trainee vs support specialist overview

Technologist TraineeSupport Specialist
Yearly salary$35,502$40,782
Hourly rate$17.07$19.61
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs71,064125,740
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does a technologist trainee do?

The duties of a technologist trainee depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around performing support tasks while gaining workplace insights, such as processing and organizing documentation, assisting in installment and repair procedures, liaising with clients through answering calls and correspondence, attending workshops and training programs, and participating in developing new systems and processes. Furthermore, as a technologist trainee, it is essential to learn and uphold the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

What does a support specialist do?

A support specialist is responsible for assisting technical and administrative support, depending on the business need. Support specialists must have extensive knowledge of the services of the organization they work for to assist customers with their inquiries and resolve complaints efficiently. A support specialist maintains documents of issue resolution, providing recommendations to improve business strategies and procedures. Support specialists must be well-versed on technology systems, perform basic troubleshooting, and secure databases. They should also have impeccable customer service and communication skills to attend with customers' needs and requests.

Technologist trainee vs support specialist salary

Technologist trainees and support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Technologist TraineeSupport Specialist
Average salary$35,502$40,782
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $46,000Between $25,000 And $64,000
Highest paying CityReno, NVNew York, NY
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew York
Best paying companyBayerMicrosoft
Best paying industryManufacturingTechnology

Differences between technologist trainee and support specialist education

There are a few differences between a technologist trainee and a support specialist in terms of educational background:

Technologist TraineeSupport Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorBiologyBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Technologist trainee vs support specialist demographics

Here are the differences between technologist trainees' and support specialists' demographics:

Technologist TraineeSupport Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 66.9% Female, 33.1%Male, 38.4% Female, 61.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 14.9% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 10.4% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between technologist trainee and support specialist duties and responsibilities

Technologist trainee example responsibilities.

  • Manage, plan and perform periodic calibrations of test equipment in accordance with ISO requirements.
  • Lead the preparation, installation and migration for Microsoft s SharePoint collaboration tool across the wing.
  • Manage user accounts and support network/email in a Novell Netware environment.
  • Manage departmental recovery activities after installation of upgrades affecting the LIS affect.
  • Gain experience troubleshooting thin clients, PCs, scanners and portable handheld terminals getting connect to network.
  • Renovate plumbing and HVAC systems.
  • Show more

Support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage project SharePoint site for the purpose of supporting ongoing collaboration
  • Provide Cerner CPOE learning support to physicians.
  • Train in motivational interviewing, HIPAA regulations, CPR certify, emergency preparedness, suicide awareness, and team building.
  • Participate in inventory taking process and maintain stockroom organization and cleanliness.
  • Create and maintain a database of ACH clients.
  • Configure, setup VPN connections, remote access.
  • Show more

Technologist trainee vs support specialist skills

Common technologist trainee skills
  • Customer Service, 57%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Cleanliness, 7%
  • Patients, 4%
  • Troubleshoot, 3%
  • Routine Maintenance, 3%
Common support specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Mental Health, 6%
  • Social Work, 4%
  • Peer Support, 4%
  • Data Entry, 3%

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