Computer Technician Career

The computer industry is incredibly dynamic and it creates a lot of job opportunities for different professionals. Today, there’s hardly any business that can survive without the use of computer integrated systems. As such, computer oriented careers are on the rise and are in constant demand. The major computer professionals are hardware engineers, software engineers, system analysts, and computer technicians.

What is a Computer Technician?

In order to perform their tasks optimally, computers have to be maintained in good working condition. This ensures that the tasks they are used for are efficiently fulfilled. A computer technician is responsible for carrying out relevant installations, maintenance and repairs on computers and other related equipments. As such, a computer technician career is very important for any business that relies heavily on computers.

Computer Technician Job Duties

A computer technician is responsible for the fulfillment of several duties. These include: installation of computers and other related equipment to ensure their optimal functioning; maintenance and replacement of faulty parts, and the servicing and repairs of computers when necessary. The equipments serviced by computer technicians include: servers, mainframe systems, PCs, and several other supportive computer equipments like printers.

Computer Technician Skills

A computer technician career is greatly enhanced by the possession of certain skill sets. Some of these skills include: a familiarity with and thorough knowledge of computers and electronics generally, ability to pick little variations in normal performance and utilize these in diagnosing a problem, and the possession of good communication skills.

Computer Technician Education

Experience, knowledge and skill in addition to formal education are very relevant to becoming and excelling as a computer technician. A thorough knowledge of computers and how electronics operate is a basic requirement and can usually be obtained from a number of educational institutions. Some of these include: vocational schools, colleges offering associate electronics degrees, as well as computers and electronic equipment manufacturers. Certifications are also available from various external institutions which work to enhance employability.

Computer Technician Salary

According to a May 2009 survey by the BLS, the median annual salary of computer technicians was $37,620. The middle 50% earned between $29,100 and $48,190. The highest 10% earned more than $59,090 and the lowest 10% earned less than $22,620. Scientific research and development services accounted for the highest salaries while computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing was the lowest.

Computer Technician Job Outlook

The decade long survey carried out by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that computer technician careers are expected to decline by 4%. This is attributable to several factors. Chief among these is the fact that computers and other related equipments have become more reliable which results in fewer repairs. In addition, since computers are becoming less expensive, replacements are often ordered instead of repairs.

Despite the anticipated decline in the need for computer repairs, computer technicians will still be needed due to the fact that malfunctions are inevitable and the majority of users are often clueless when it comes to repairing their computers. The best way to be more secure in this field is by building a broad range of skills relevant to the industry.