In addition to becoming a common aspect of running virtually any business, from record keeping to other management functions and sales, computers have become a part of mainstream society, similar to radio and television in the past. Because computers are such an essential component of culture on a worldwide basis, the need to maintain and operate them efficiently has also increased. Therefore, computer technicians are in higher demand than ever. There are many benefits for those who become trained in the information technology, or IT, industry.

Personal Benefits

One of the more obvious benefits for a computer technician is having the knowledge to obtain, set up and more easily maintain their own home computer system. Because of the knowledge he has, he often knows which computer systems are best and how to operate and troubleshoot them better than an average person. This can provide major cost savings in the long run. It can also be a benefit to the friends and family of a computer technician, who can counsel computer purchasing decisions operating instructions and related information. Most workers can also expect a clean, quiet work environment as well as options to work from remote locations.

Types of Jobs

Computer technicians of many types exist, from those who work on individual and small business operations to those who manage main frame and enterprise systems. She may be called upon to develop and troubleshoot program software, build, repair or structure the hardware of a computer, troubleshoot various devices, install software, perform and supervise upgrades and maintenance, deploy networks or provide customer support and service. Because the level and scope of the job of a computer technician is so wide, the kinds of jobs are plentiful and varied. This allows for a high level of flexibility in terms of job availability and type as well as career advancement.

Common Benefits

According to the the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 85 percent of employers provided health insurance to computer technicians in 2009. As many people in the world are not offered and do not have health insurance, this is a high level of employees within any given industry to have health insurance benefits. This indicates the status of a company that requires computer technical assistance is high, another benefit to consider when evaluating the desirability of a career. Many technical professionals also receive retirement benefit packages like 401(k)s, as well as additional computer training. Some also receive disability insurance, performance bonuses and schedule flexibility.

High Employment Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 231,000 network technicians were employed in 2004. Employment of computer network specialists is expected to grow faster than the average for all other occupations through 2014. The number of computer network users is also expected to increase as technology evolves. Because of this, the demand for more skilled technicians will also increase to service the businesses, companies, consulting firms and institutions that will hire them.

Industry Trends

According to an Industry Market Trends report, from 2004-2008, computer and data processing service jobs were listed as the industry with the largest wage growth. When salaries decrease due to economic conditions, fringe benefits are increased for IT professionals to make up for any wage loss. The latest projections indicate that the highest wage growth for 2006-2016 will include technical consulting services. Employment is projected to increase by 32 percent from 2006 to 2016. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that job opportunities will be excellent for most technical workers, with professionals enjoying the highest prospects, due to continuing demand and technology changes.