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Break-fix technician vs desk support technician

The differences between break-fix technicians and desk support technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a break-fix technician and a desk support technician. Additionally, a desk support technician has an average salary of $40,715, which is higher than the $40,309 average annual salary of a break-fix technician.

The top three skills for a break-fix technician include desktop support, hand tools and PC. The most important skills for a desk support technician are customer service, technical support, and troubleshoot.

Break-fix technician vs desk support technician overview

Break-Fix TechnicianDesk Support Technician
Yearly salary$40,309$40,715
Hourly rate$19.38$19.57
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs66,061130,485
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Break-fix technician vs desk support technician salary

Break-fix technicians and desk support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Break-Fix TechnicianDesk Support Technician
Average salary$40,309$40,715
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $67,000Between $26,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City-South San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-BNY Mellon
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between break-fix technician and desk support technician education

There are a few differences between a break-fix technician and a desk support technician in terms of educational background:

Break-Fix TechnicianDesk Support Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common majorInformation TechnologyBusiness
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyStanford University

Break-fix technician vs desk support technician demographics

Here are the differences between break-fix technicians' and desk support technicians' demographics:

Break-Fix TechnicianDesk Support Technician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 89.8% Female, 10.2%Male, 82.6% Female, 17.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 10.8% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 11.7% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between break-fix technician and desk support technician duties and responsibilities

Break-fix technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.
  • Install Microsoft SCCM on workstations.
  • Advise on hardware diagnosis and solution.
  • Stay up with old and new POS technologies.
  • Configure workstation IP addresseses and solve IP conflicts.
  • Replace any routers or switches that go bad.
  • Show more

Desk support technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.
  • Use multiple monitor setup display and remote desktop applications via VPN to access associate computers.
  • Utilize desktop deployment tools in order to deploy and maintain inventory for PCs, monitors, and printers.
  • Assist with network connectivity with PCs, laptops, and mobile phones including TCP/IP settings and internet connections.
  • Provide administrative support and troubleshooting for VPN users.
  • Maintain company networks security systems and infrastructure hardware including firewalls and switches and install software security and firmware patches or upgrades.
  • Show more

Break-fix technician vs desk support technician skills

Common break-fix technician skills
  • Desktop Support, 10%
  • Hand Tools, 9%
  • PC, 8%
  • Network Connectivity, 8%
  • Laptop Computers, 7%
  • Network Printers, 6%
Common desk support technician skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Technical Support, 8%
  • Troubleshoot, 7%
  • Phone Calls, 5%
  • Desk Side Support, 5%
  • Remote Troubleshooting, 4%

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