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The differences between configuration 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 configuration specialist and a help desk specialist. Additionally, a configuration specialist has an average salary of $77,122, which is higher than the $51,065 average annual salary of a help desk specialist.
The top three skills for a configuration specialist include troubleshoot, system configuration and configuration management. The most important skills for a help desk specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Configuration Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $77,122 | $51,065 |
| Hourly rate | $37.08 | $24.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 50,788 | 75,004 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A configuration specialist is responsible for preparing computer applications, systems, and software for use. Your duties include assisting in the development of software, assisting in the setup of computer software, and organizing and conducting training on how to use the software. In addition, you will assist in the development and implementation of configuration management procedures, ensuring data integrity, quality, and security in the configuration management database. You will also be responsible for evaluating team members' performance and provide recommendations for improvements.
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.
Configuration specialists and help desk specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Configuration Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average salary | $77,122 | $51,065 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $108,000 | Between $35,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Bed Bath & Beyond | Schulte Roth & Zabel |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Technology |
There are a few differences between a configuration specialist and a help desk specialist in terms of educational background:
| Configuration Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between configuration specialists' and help desk specialists' demographics:
| Configuration Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.5% Female, 40.5% | Male, 79.4% Female, 20.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 12.6% White, 54.7% 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% |