What is a computer technician? how to become a (2023)

FAQs

What is a computer technician? how to become a? ›

To become a computer technician, you'll need a high school diploma or equivalent. However, you'll likely stand out from your competitors by earning an associate's degree in information technology or a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field.

Computer science is a broad field, so if you're looking to get your computer science degree, the kind of math you'll need to know will depend on your specific program and career path. But generally speaking, most degree programs require a basic understanding of calculus, algebra, discrete mathematics, and statistics.

Computer Technician Career Paths

For example, they could start out with a role such as technical support specialist, progress to a title such as systems administrator and then eventually end up with the title information technology manager.

To become a computer technician, you'll need a high school diploma or equivalent. However, you'll likely stand out from your competitors by earning an associate's degree in information technology or a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field.

Some employers may require a bachelor's degree for entry-level roles. However, you can still land a high-paying tech job without a degree. Coding bootcamps are just one of the pathways to help you enter the field.

A Computer Technician is a professional who is tasked with maintaining computer systems, troubleshooting errors, and repairing the organization's hardware. These professionals use their knowledge in networking and software applications to provide technical support for both employees and customers onsite or remotely.

Learning the discipline of Computer Science is a hard and difficult endeavor for most students. However, if you are willing to invest the time and learn serious time management skills, most students can successfully learn the discipline and pursue successful careers in Computer Science fields.

Can you work from home as computer technician? ›

As a remote computer technician, you work from home to provide support to users, troubleshoot issues, run diagnostics, and observe security features. You update software, repair any malfunctioning parts, install new programs, and complete additional IT duties.

How long does it take to become an IT technician? Completing a relevant associate's degree can take as little as two years and further certification courses can take anything from six months to a year to complete with some more involved options taking longer.

$20. The estimated total pay for a Computer Technician at Best Buy is $20 per hour. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated base pay is $19 per hour.

If not having a degree has held you back from pursuing a career in technology, you should know that most tech positions simply require proof that you can do the job, through certifications and prior experience. Hiring managers don't weed out potential job candidates because they don't have undergraduate degrees.

How do I get into cyber security? ›

Earn a Degree

About 90% of job postings in this field require a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science or a related field. A traditional degree remains the most popular path to launching a cybersecurity career. You can earn a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity either online or in person.

You can get an entry-level cybersecurity job without a degree. Bootcamps, industry certifications, and self-guided education can prepare individuals to pursue roles in the field. However, management or advanced technical roles often require formal academic preparation.

A computer technician is also known as a PC technician or PC repair technician.

Examples for computer technician include software and hardware expertise, troubleshooting proficiency, and the ability to install and maintain network peripherals. Soft skills are interpersonal skills such as leadership and the ability to effectively communicate. These are helpful in just about every job and industry.

Often, when people talk about a computer science degree, they're referring to a bachelor's degree. A bachelor's degree in computer science will typically take around four years to complete if you attend school full-time, as most programs require you to complete 120 to 128 credits.

Binary mathematics is the heart of the computer and an essential math field for computer programming. For all mathematical concepts, the binary number system uses only two digits, 0 and 1. It simplifies the coding process and is essential for low-level instructions used in hardware programming.

Choose Your Learning Method

There are a lot of ways to learn the skills you need to get a job in computer science. You can read books and resources by yourself, enroll in an online course, or attend an online coding bootcamp. These three options are far cheaper than going to college.

Remember: you do not need coding or programming skills out of the gate—these are taught in the computer science courses themselves. You also do not need to be familiar with how a computer works. Computer science isn't exactly easy, but having strong math (and other related skills) can make it a lot less hard.

What is the least you can make with computer science? ›

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the median annual salary of computer scientists as $131,490 with a range of $74,210 for the lowest 10 percent of wage earners and $208,000 for the highest 10 percent [2].

Computer repair can be one of the only jobs that are low-stress and high-paying. This is not the case for the majority of jobs out there, so finding one that meets your lifestyle is crucial.

IoT Solutions Architect

IoT Solution Architects have among the highest paying jobs, and they make it big in the Indian IT services industry. According to AmbitionBox, IoT Solution Architect salary in India ranges between ₹ 12.9 Lakhs to ₹ 34.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 30.5 Lakhs.

Overall employment of computer support specialists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 75,000 openings for computer support specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

What is the easiest computer job to get into? ›

It's Never Too Late to Get Started.

While concerns about ageism are valid, they will not stop time from passing. Making a career change over 40 is absolutely worth it if you have the courage to make it happen.

There is a huge variety of Windows PCs on the market, and an entry-level PC would have a slower CPU and minimum amount of RAM, storage and screen resolution.

How long does it take start-to-finish? Altogether, if you enroll in the Break Into Tech and Job Guarantee program, it can take five months to get hired at an absolute bare minimum, six months to get hired if you're working at a faster pace, and 11 months to get hired if you're working at an average pace.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the best tech jobs pay higher than the average median wage of $34,750 and have projected growth rates that are 11% faster than the average US job.

Yes, working as an IT technician is a good career.

With average salaries ranging from $55,000 to $76,000 per year, technicians have the ability to earn an above-average income while choosing their work environment. The need for IT technicians is growing more rapidly than in other professions.

The average Best Buy salary ranges from approximately $17,164 per year for Customer Service Representative to $97,000 per year for Senior Scientist. Salary information comes from 2,447 data points collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months.

Computer repair services cost an average of $65 per hour. Most technicians also charge a call-out fee and travel fees if you need them to come to you.

How much does Best Buy in the United States pay? Average Best Buy hourly pay ranges from approximately $7.54 per hour for Technical Consultant to $26.04 per hour for Senior Sales Manager. The average Best Buy salary ranges from approximately $14,500 per year for Trainer to $140,000 per year for Partnership Manager.

Computer or repair technicians earn an average of $26.57 per hour, monthly salary start from $2,529 and go up to $7,169. The average annual salary is $55,260 and can go up to $86,034 per year.

What do I need for IT support? ›

A Computer Technician is a professional who is tasked with maintaining computer systems, troubleshooting errors, and repairing the organization's hardware. These professionals use their knowledge in networking and software applications to provide technical support for both employees and customers onsite or remotely.

Do I need to know how to code? The answer is a resounding “no.” Tech companies are businesses. They rely on many other departments besides software engineering, and it's common for many of their employees not to be programmers. Below are just a few entry-level jobs you can pursue if tech is your calling.

Level 1 support is the first tier of support, usually provided by IT support personnel with the least experience, lower understanding of technical issues, and limited access to company information. The technicians in Level 1: Collect customer requests and data. Attend to customer phone calls.

For example, IT Technicians are responsible for installing computers, routers and other devices for company employees. In contrast, IT Specialists assist Technicians in troubleshooting recurring problems that require additional expertise and making repairs to specific types of computer systems or devices.

Basic computer knowledge is about how computers work and how to use them. This may include typing, learning keyboard commands, powering a computer on and off, knowing how to connect and disconnect the Internet to a computer. It can help you understand different operating systems and application software.