| The computer technician career field has undergone | | | | technician starter salary will be lower, of course, and |
| some dramatic changes in the past decade. There | | | | will depend on the experience and training of the |
| was a period of extremely rapid growth during the | | | | applicant as well as the location of the job itself. It is |
| period prior to what has been called the "dot com. | | | | expected that salaries will continue to rise although |
| bust". This was followed by a leveling off period. | | | | there is still some concern of the lost of lower level |
| Today, there is still some loss of lower level | | | | positions. In most cases, the loss of lower level jobs |
| programming jobs to other countries. Despite this the | | | | leads to more rapid promotion and higher salaries for |
| field is again experiencing growth. The United States | | | | upper level positions that tend to remain in country |
| labor Department projects continued growth in the | | | | and have less competition. |
| computer technician field through at least 2012. | | | | Certification has become more and more critical to |
| Computer technician requirements continue to vary | | | | success in the computer technician career field. The |
| from employer to employer. Although a college | | | | CompTia A+ Certification or the ability to obtain it |
| degree is still extremely valuable, it is not always a | | | | within a specified time frame has become a part of |
| necessity. Many people have entered the ranks of | | | | the job description of a computer technician for |
| techs through more unusual means. Performance and | | | | many larger companies. It is a good idea to be |
| knowledge are more important attributes to most | | | | prepared to receive as many Certifications as |
| employers. A computer technician description will vary | | | | possible and to complete the A+ even before |
| from employer to employer also. There are several | | | | beginning a serious job search. Computers have |
| divisions within the field. The computer support | | | | changed the face of the work force over the last |
| specialist is one and is also a normal entry level | | | | couple of decades and few people anticipated these |
| position. Other areas of specialization include | | | | changes. The job market for computer technician in |
| computer programmers and computer systems | | | | 2007 is very exciting and the potential for growth is |
| analysts. | | | | great. It is not unlikely that rapid technological change |
| Salaries for computer technicians vary according to | | | | will cause as much change in the next ten years as it |
| the classification. The computer support specialist has | | | | did in the last ten. If this is true, computer techs |
| a median salary of $39,100 while the computer | | | | should be well positioned to benefit from the |
| systems analyst averages $62,890. The computer | | | | changes. |