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The differences between data center engineers and desktop engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a data center engineer and a desktop engineer. Additionally, a desktop engineer has an average salary of $102,893, which is higher than the $102,788 average annual salary of a data center engineer.
The top three skills for a data center engineer include data centers, troubleshoot and HVAC. The most important skills for a desktop engineer are customer service, SCCM, and troubleshoot.
| Data Center Engineer | Desktop Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,788 | $102,893 |
| Hourly rate | $49.42 | $49.47 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 178,277 | 87,458 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A data center engineer is responsible for managing the efficiency and optimal performance of the network data systems of an organization. Data center engineers ensure the safety and security of the database to prevent unauthorized access and suspicious activities within the network that may pose risks for the business. They assess the navigation of the servers, conduct regular maintenance, and perform immediate troubleshooting for glitches to avoid any delays in the operation. A data center engineer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in writing data resolution for reference and configuration.
A desktop engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and performance of computer systems across the organization to deliver high-performance on business operations and client specifications. Desktop engineers resolve computer desktop issues, including navigation and security complications that create delays in the operational process. They conduct regular maintenance with the computer systems, upgrade network infrastructure, and perform configuration to ensure smooth functionality and resolutions. A desktop engineer should have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, recommending system solutions to avoid the reoccurrence of network issues and glitches.
Data center engineers and desktop engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Data Center Engineer | Desktop Engineer | |
| Average salary | $102,788 | $102,893 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $147,000 | Between $77,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a data center engineer and a desktop engineer in terms of educational background:
| Data Center Engineer | Desktop Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between data center engineers' and desktop engineers' demographics:
| Data Center Engineer | Desktop Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8% | Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 11.0% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 13.6% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |