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The differences between desktop engineers and technical support 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 desktop engineer and a technical support engineer. Additionally, a desktop engineer has an average salary of $102,893, which is higher than the $85,716 average annual salary of a technical support engineer.
The top three skills for a desktop engineer include customer service, SCCM and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a technical support engineer are technical support, customer service, and troubleshoot.
| Desktop Engineer | Technical Support Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,893 | $85,716 |
| Hourly rate | $49.47 | $41.21 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 87,458 | 184,542 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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 technical support engineer is responsible for responding to customer issues, providing immediate resolutions to their system issues through remote assistance. Technical support engineers must have strong knowledge of software and hardware applications to diagnose system defects and process troubleshooting. They also assist customers with the installation of programs and updates to improve system performance, escalating high-level concerns to appropriate internal technology teams. A technical support engineer must have strong command with technical systems, as well as excellent communication and time-management skills to understand clients' issues while documenting procedures.
Desktop engineers and technical support engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Desktop Engineer | Technical Support Engineer | |
| Average salary | $102,893 | $85,716 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $136,000 | Between $61,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Ropes & Gray | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a desktop engineer and a technical support engineer in terms of educational background:
| Desktop Engineer | Technical Support Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between desktop engineers' and technical support engineers' demographics:
| Desktop Engineer | Technical Support Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3% | Male, 83.3% Female, 16.7% |
| 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, 9.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |