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The differences between call center 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 call center technician and a desk support technician. Additionally, a desk support technician has an average salary of $40,715, which is higher than the $34,630 average annual salary of a call center technician.
The top three skills for a call center technician include center management, patients and technical support. The most important skills for a desk support technician are customer service, technical support, and troubleshoot.
| Call Center Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $34,630 | $40,715 |
| Hourly rate | $16.65 | $19.57 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 117,083 | 130,485 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A call center technician is someone who handles quality-wise communication, product representation, and customer support for clients. Call center technicians research issues related to call quality and documentation. They plan and assist in the installation of hardware, maintenance agreements, and software to maximize the compatibility, integration, and continuing operations of applications or systems. Also, they provide end-users with technical support and respond through telephone or email requests.
A desktop support technician is responsible for assisting end-users with their network issues, grant authorization requests, and create user accounts. Desktop support technicians maintain the safety and security of networks, preventing unauthorized access and illegal dissemination of database information. They also handle the software configurations and upgrading the network infrastructure to avoid system downtimes and operational delays. A desktop support technician must have excellent communication and technical skills to monitor systems performance and enhance network navigation.
Call center technicians and desk support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Call Center Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $34,630 | $40,715 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $52,000 | Between $26,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jacksonville, NC | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | California |
| Best paying company | Ciena Healthcare | BNY Mellon |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a call center technician and a desk support technician in terms of educational background:
| Call Center Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between call center technicians' and desk support technicians' demographics:
| Call Center Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.5% Female, 43.5% | Male, 82.6% Female, 17.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.9% 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 Percentage | 11% | 11% |