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The differences between computer system 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 system specialist and a help desk specialist. Additionally, a computer system specialist has an average salary of $71,716, which is higher than the $51,065 average annual salary of a help desk specialist.
The top three skills for a computer system specialist include computer system, troubleshoot and CSV. The most important skills for a help desk specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Computer System Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $71,716 | $51,065 |
| Hourly rate | $34.48 | $24.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 89,673 | 75,004 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Computer system specialists are responsible for providing technical guidance in developing and troubleshooting a company's computer systems. They adjust the software to provide the database needs of every department in the company. These specialists manage the intranet and internet websites the network users can access and test for system issues to resolve. They serve as lead workers that provide supervision and training over clerical and technical staff on how the system functions. Their duties also include gathering feedback from users to update the system to provide for their needs.
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 system specialists and help desk specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer System Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average salary | $71,716 | $51,065 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $102,000 | Between $35,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Los Alamos National Laboratory | Schulte Roth & Zabel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a computer system specialist and a help desk specialist in terms of educational background:
| Computer System Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between computer system specialists' and help desk specialists' demographics:
| Computer System Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% | Male, 79.4% Female, 20.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.7% 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% |