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The differences between computer repair technicians and desktop 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 computer repair technician and a desktop support technician. Additionally, a desktop support technician has an average salary of $41,792, which is higher than the $32,627 average annual salary of a computer repair technician.
The top three skills for a computer repair technician include troubleshoot, laptop computers and computer system. The most important skills for a desktop support technician are customer service, desktop support, and troubleshoot.
| Computer Repair Technician | Desktop Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $32,627 | $41,792 |
| Hourly rate | $15.69 | $20.09 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 109,196 | 108,944 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 1 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A computer repair technician installs, repairs, and maintains different computer equipment. Computer repair technicians repair and maintain computers and their servers. The technicians are responsible for configuring and building new hardware as well as installing and updating software packages. They have to be updated on the ever-evolving technology for certain job analysis and troubleshooting. Good computer repair technicians are investigative who are introspective, inquisitive, and intellectual. They are also methodical, logical, rational, and curious.
A desktop support technician is responsible for troubleshooting defective computer systems, affecting its performance and efficiency. Desktop support technicians must be highly familiar with the technology systems and programming codes to navigate system applications and locate the discrepancy of the system. They keep documentation of the ticket issue and the resolution for reference and quality improvement. A desktop support technician also configures and updates computer systems and networks for better optimization, as well as conducting regular inspections and monitoring the efficiency of installed programs and patches.
Computer repair technicians and desktop support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Repair Technician | Desktop Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $32,627 | $41,792 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $41,000 | Between $32,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Paul, MN | Philadelphia, PA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | NTT Data International L.L.C. |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a computer repair technician and a desktop support technician in terms of educational background:
| Computer Repair Technician | Desktop Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Information Systems |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between computer repair technicians' and desktop support technicians' demographics:
| Computer Repair Technician | Desktop Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 10.7% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 11.7% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |