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The differences between desktop engineers and help desk managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a desktop engineer and a help desk manager. Additionally, a desktop engineer has an average salary of $102,893, which is higher than the $96,278 average annual salary of a help desk manager.
The top three skills for a desktop engineer include customer service, SCCM and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a help desk manager are customer service, technical support, and help desk.
| Desktop Engineer | Help Desk Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $102,893 | $96,278 |
| Hourly rate | $49.47 | $46.29 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 87,458 | 75,971 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A help desk manager oversees and coordinates the daily performance of help desk teams, ensuring clients get to receive optimal support and services. They are in charge of setting goals and guidelines, establishing budgets and timelines, performing assessments and inspections, and monitoring the progress of operations, resolving issues or conflicts should any arise. There are also instances when a help desk manager must facilitate the communication between internal and external parties, recruit and train new members of the workforce, and implement policies and procedures to optimize operations.
Desktop engineers and help desk managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Desktop Engineer | Help Desk Manager | |
| Average salary | $102,893 | $96,278 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $136,000 | Between $74,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Ropes & Gray | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a desktop engineer and a help desk manager in terms of educational background:
| Desktop Engineer | Help Desk Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between desktop engineers' and help desk managers' demographics:
| Desktop Engineer | Help Desk Manager | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3% | Male, 70.3% Female, 29.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |