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Occupation
Overview
PC
Technicians install, fix, and upgrade personal
computers and peripheral devices such as printers
and scanners. In contrast to Technical Support
Representatives, who often support computer
software applications, PC Technicians tend
to focus on getting the computer hardware
to work properly. Software is used, but typically
only at the operating system level in order
to diagnose problems or correctly configure
a system.
PC
Technicians are employed in a variety of settings.
These include (a) computer stores, where they
regularly work with different computer systems,
(b) office environments, where the variety
of computers supported is more limited, and
(c) computer manufacturers, where the computers
supported are restricted to those manufactured
by that specific company.
This
is an ideal career for individuals who have
an interest in electronics, like to fix things,
and can work with minimal supervision. The
increased usage of streaming media (video
and audio) and digital media has led to more
areas for PC Technicians to learn about.
As
the use of computers continues to grow, so
will the need for individuals who are qualified
to repair them. Employment of PC Technicians
will grow faster than most occupations through
the year 2006, however in the current economic
situation jobs can be difficult to find. The
good news is that salaries for these jobs
are on the rise.
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Future
Growth Opportunities
Opportunities
for Advancement:
With
experience, one can advance to Technical Lead
and Manager positions within a PC repair organization
or shop. With a Bachelor's Degree, it is possible
to become a Hardware Engineer.
Skills
Transferable to:
Electronics
Service Person, Technical Support Representative,
Communications Equipment Mechanic, Network
Technician, and Business Equipment Technician.
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Job
Descriptions
PC
Technicians perform a variety of activities
related to computer hardware and the peripherals
associated with them such as disk drives,
monitors, and CD ROMS. Specific tasks include:
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Cleaning computer hardware according to
manufacturers' specifications.
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Monitoring computer hardware performance
and diagnosing problems.
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Upgrading computers through the addition
of new hardware, such as additional RAM
or a new disk drive.
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Setting up new configurations of equipment
for temporary activities such as software
testing.
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Adjusting, repairing, and replacing worn
or defective parts.
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Performing testing of equipment that has
been repaired, prior to returning the equipment
to the user.
Often,
the PC Technician receives a written work
order with a description of the problem. Sometimes
the request may come from a voicemail message.
The first thing they do is check for common
causes of the problem, such as loose connections
or components that are obviously defective.
If this does not isolate the problem, diagnostic
tests can be run using hardware and software
tools. Fixing problems usually requires replacing
defective parts or reconfiguring the computer
to correctly identify the hardware components.
Some
PC Technicians specialize in the hardware
from a particular manufacturer, but most work
with equipment from a variety of vendors.
With experience, PC Technicians will help
other Technicians solve difficult problems,
or work with Engineers in designing products
and maintenance procedures.
More
and more, PC Technicians are being asked to
be familiar with the software being run on
the computers they support. At a minimum,
Technicians must understand the relevant operating
system (such as Windows 98/2000/NT/XP, Unix,
and Mac OS), and how to configure systems.
The broader ones knowledge of software and
hardware is, the greater their opportunity
for advancement.
Entry
Level: $7 - 20 / hour ($15 / hour average)
Experienced,
New to Job: $8 - 28 / hour ($20 / hour average)
Experienced
in Job: $10 - 40 / hour ($30 / hour average)
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