Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between computer specialists and help desk specialists 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 specialist and a help desk specialist. Additionally, a computer specialist has an average salary of $75,950, which is higher than the $51,065 average annual salary of a help desk specialist.
The top three skills for a computer specialist include data entry, troubleshoot and computer system. The most important skills for a help desk specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Computer Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $75,950 | $51,065 |
| Hourly rate | $36.51 | $24.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 75,054 | 75,004 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A computer specialist's responsibilities typically revolve around installing and repairing computer hardware and software. They meet with clients to identify their needs, examine and troubleshoot equipment, perform upgrades, and discuss the extent of repairs or replacements to clients. In a company setting, a computer specialist is in charge of overseeing an array of equipment, conducting regular maintenance checks, and performing corrective measures as needed. Furthermore, they must provide technical support, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
The primary role of help desk specialists is to maintain relationships between the company and its customers. Their duties and responsibilities include responding to guests' queries, providing technical computer support, and maintaining computer systems' performance. Help desk specialists are also responsible for following up with customers to resolve issues and train computer users. There are several requirements to be qualified for this position, which include having relevant customer service experience, problem-solving and analytical skills, and the ability to prioritize vital tasks.
Computer specialists and help desk specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average salary | $75,950 | $51,065 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $97,000 | Between $35,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Apple | Schulte Roth & Zabel |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a computer specialist and a help desk specialist in terms of educational background:
| Computer Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between computer specialists' and help desk specialists' demographics:
| Computer Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.8% Female, 29.2% | Male, 79.4% Female, 20.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 11.7% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 11.6% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |