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The differences between data process 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 data process specialist and a help desk specialist. Additionally, a help desk specialist has an average salary of $51,065, which is higher than the $48,604 average annual salary of a data process specialist.
The top three skills for a data process specialist include data entry, data management and data accuracy. The most important skills for a help desk specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Data Process Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $48,604 | $51,065 |
| Hourly rate | $23.37 | $24.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 147,321 | 75,004 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A data processing specialist is a data entry professional who specializes in collecting, interpreting, and organizing data according to company standards and policies. They usually work on spreadsheets, documents, databases, and presentations to arrange and convey data in an easy-to-understand format, all while adhering to deadlines. They may also conduct their own reviews and assessments to identify inconsistencies and errors, performing corrective measures right away. Moreover, a data processing specialist must maintain an open and transparent communication line with managers and co-workers for an efficient workflow.
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.
Data process specialists and help desk specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Data Process Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average salary | $48,604 | $51,065 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $78,000 | Between $35,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | Alaska |
| Best paying company | CAMRIS International, Inc. | Schulte Roth & Zabel |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a data process specialist and a help desk specialist in terms of educational background:
| Data Process Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between data process specialists' and help desk specialists' demographics:
| Data Process Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.6% Female, 63.4% | Male, 79.4% Female, 20.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.4% 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% |