Career comparison
IT Support Specialist vs. Network Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Network technicians earn more at the median ($76,220 vs. $61,860), while IT support specialists usually get to work faster (3–6 months of training). IT support specialists help people solve computer, account and network problems: the classic way into IT. Network technicians install, monitor and troubleshoot the networks that connect computers and people.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| IT Support Specialist | Network Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $61,860 ($29.74/hr) | $76,220 ($36.64/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $40,980 – $100,540 | $47,120 – $127,780 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -3.5% (a projected decline) | +1.2% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 39,700 | 9,000 |
| Typical entry education | Some college, no degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 3–6 months | 6 months–2 years |
| Key credential | CompTIA A+ | CompTIA Network+ |
| Work setting | IT support specialists work for companies of every kind, managed service providers (MSPs), schools and government. | Technicians work in offices, data centers, wiring closets and network operations centers. |
What each job does
IT Support Specialist
- Respond to help desk tickets, calls and chats
- Troubleshoot hardware, software and connectivity issues
- Set up and configure computers, phones and peripherals
- Manage user accounts, passwords and permissions
- Install updates and support security tools
Network Technician
- Install and configure network equipment
- Monitor network performance and alerts
- Troubleshoot connectivity problems
- Install and test network cabling
- Maintain network documentation
How they’re similar
Both careers involve problem-solving and indoor work. Both are part of the technology field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose IT support specialist if…
- I enjoy fixing tech problems
- I stay patient when people are frustrated
- I like learning new technology
Choose network technician if…
- I like figuring out why things aren’t working
- I enjoy hands-on tech work
- I can stay calm during outages
Still torn? Take the IT Support Specialist fit quiz and the Network Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, IT support specialist or network technician?
Network Technicians earn more at the median: $76,220 versus $61,860 for IT support specialists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
IT Support Specialists typically train faster (3–6 months) than network technicians (6 months–2 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects network technicians to grow +1.2% from 2025–35, compared with -3.5% for IT support specialists.