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The differences between trainees and computer 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 trainee and a computer technician. Additionally, a computer technician has an average salary of $39,767, which is higher than the $39,185 average annual salary of a trainee.
The top three skills for a trainee include customer service, CDL and training programs. The most important skills for a computer technician are customer service, desk support, and network printers.
| Trainee | Computer Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,185 | $39,767 |
| Hourly rate | $18.84 | $19.12 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 51,490 | 95,688 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Trainees' general responsibility is to familiarize themselves with the best practices and processes of their chosen careers. Some of the trainee's duties include shadowing with a tenured employee to understand various tasks, taking practical examinations to test knowledge extent, maintaining the eagerness to learn and a positive working attitude, assisting with customer inquiries, escalating concerns, and maintaining record progress. A trainee should be a team player, a fast learner, and the ability to handle constructive criticisms for improvement.
Computer technicians are skilled information technology professionals who handle concerns related to computers. They are responsible for assisting clients in software installations, troubleshooting needs, and repair needs. Computer technicians handle the maintenance and repair of both software and hardware of computers. They should be able to quickly pinpoint the causes of computer problems that the client encounters. They should also be able to answer the clients' computer-related inquiries and provide advice on proper computer handling. Computer technicians should have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Trainees and computer technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Trainee | Computer Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,185 | $39,767 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $55,000 | Between $28,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Alexandria, VA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Clifford Chance | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between a trainee and a computer technician in terms of educational background:
| Trainee | Computer Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between trainees' and computer technicians' demographics:
| Trainee | Computer Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% | Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.8% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 11.1% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |