Hardware Technicians

ANZSCO ID 313111

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
2,000
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
72%
Female Share
6%
Average age
36

Summary

Hardware Technicians support and maintain computer systems and peripherals by installing, configuring, testing, troubleshooting, and repairing hardware.

Tasks

  • Determines software and hardware requirements to provide solutions to problems.

  • Responds to queries on software and hardware problems.

  • Installs and downloads appropriate software.

  • Adapting existing programs to meet users' requirements.

  • Ensuring efficient use of applications and equipment.

  • Implementing computer networks, designing and maintaining websites.

  • Repairing and replacing peripheral equipment such as terminals, printer and modems.

  • May work in a call centre.

Characteristics

Job Type
Technicians And Trades Workers
Skill Level
High skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
n/a
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • University
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Light

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, ICT Support Technicians, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 72% of people employed as Hardware Technicians work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 6 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 42 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.


Industries

Main industries

1
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
41.1%
2
Other Services
14.3%
3
Education and Training
8.4%
4
Retail Trade
7.0%
5
Other industries
25.1%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

34.8% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

24.3% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

19.5% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

6.3% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

9.0% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.8% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

1.1% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

3.3% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Hardware Technicians All Jobs Average
NSW 34.8 31.6
VIC 24.3 25.6
QLD 19.5 20.0
SA 6.3 7.0
WA 9.0 10.8
TAS 1.8 2.0
NT 1.1 1.0
ACT 3.3 1.9



Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
36
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
6%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Hardware Technicians is 36 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.

    Females make up 6% of the workforce. This is 42 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Hardware Technicians All Jobs Average
15-19 5.1 5.0
20-24 11.0 9.3
25-34 27.9 22.9
35-44 25.6 22.0
45-54 18.7 21.6
55-59 5.7 9.0
60-64 3.8 6.0
65 and Over 2.2 4.2
Median Age 36 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

Extensive experience or a formal qualification in information technology is needed to work as a Hardware Technician. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.

Visit

  • Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
  • ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Information and Communications Technology VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Hardware Technicians All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 7.8 10.1
Bachelor degree 21.6 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 19.1 11.6
Certificate III/IV 18.9 21.1
Year 12 23.7 18.1
Year 11 3.6 4.8
Year 10 and below 5.3 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for ICT Support Technicians who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 57%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 54%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 54%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 52%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 52%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 50%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 48%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 48%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 46%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 46%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 46%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 46%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 46%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 46%

    Systems analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.

  • 46%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 45%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 45%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 41%

    Management of personnel resources

    Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.

  • 39%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 37%

    Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 74%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 64%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 62%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 55%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 45%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 39%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 35%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 34%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 33%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • 32%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 32%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 31%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 29%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 26%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 26%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 25%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 22%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.

  • 17%

    Sales and marketing

    Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • 16%

    Economics and accounting

    Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.

  • 14%

    Geography

    Describing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 59%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 57%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 55%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 54%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 54%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 54%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 52%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 52%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 52%

    Visualization

    Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • 48%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 48%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 48%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 48%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 46%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 46%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 46%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 46%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 46%

    Written expression

    Write in a way that people can understand.

  • 45%

    Brainstorming

    Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.

  • 45%

    Colour discrimination

    Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 75%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 73%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 72%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 72%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 70%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 69%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 69%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 67%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 62%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 61%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 60%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 59%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 59%

    Scheduling work and activities

    Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

  • 57%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 56%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 53%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 52%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 46%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.

  • 42%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.

  • 34%

    Controlling equipment or machines

    Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 100%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 76%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 52%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 48%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 29%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 14%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 76%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 71%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 57%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 45%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 43%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.

  • 38%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 100%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 99%

    Electronic mail

    Use electronic mail.

  • 94%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 89%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 88%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 86%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 85%

    Spend time sitting

    Spend time sitting at work.

  • 84%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 81%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 78%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 78%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 66%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 65%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 64%

    Repeating same tasks

    Repeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.

  • 64%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

  • 63%

    Contact with the public

    Work with customers or the public.

  • 62%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 62%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

  • 60%

    Letters and memos

    Write letters and memos.

  • 58%

    Automation of tasks

    Do tasks that are mostly automated.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 43-9011.00 - Computer Operators.


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