Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between computer assistants and help desk analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a computer assistant and a help desk analyst. Additionally, a computer assistant has an average salary of $47,077, which is higher than the $37,318 average annual salary of a help desk analyst.
The top three skills for a computer assistant include computer equipment, software issues and customer support. The most important skills for a help desk analyst are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Computer Assistant | Help Desk Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $47,077 | $37,318 |
| Hourly rate | $22.63 | $17.94 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 33,400 | 87,591 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Also referred to as customer support staff or technical support, a computer assistant describes and solves technical problems associated with computer systems and programs. Computer assistants provide telephone-based and on-site assistance to clients and customers. They use their communication and technical skills to help users with their computer troubleshooting problems. While some of them work in call centers, communicate via email or through online chat. It is also their responsibility to install and upgrade the computer software and hardware systems of their employer.
Help Desk Analysts generally provide technical support by assisting customers with their system issues. These analysts are expected to be highly knowledgeable about application processes and basic troubleshooting. Help Desk Analysts usually communicate with end-users through phone calls or e-mail and are required to attend on customers technical issues promptly. Depending on the expertise, the Help Desk Analysts are often categorized to support levels wherein the most complex issues are often handle by the highest tier. The Help Desk Analysts must have critical-thinking skills on solving network problems and document specific concerns and progress.
Computer assistants and help desk analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Assistant | Help Desk Analyst | |
| Average salary | $47,077 | $37,318 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $83,000 | Between $26,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | Pacific Investment Management Company LLC |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a computer assistant and a help desk analyst in terms of educational background:
| Computer Assistant | Help Desk Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Information Systems |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between computer assistants' and help desk analysts' demographics:
| Computer Assistant | Help Desk Analyst | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.8% Female, 44.2% | Male, 71.8% Female, 28.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 14.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 11.1% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |