Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between desktop/network supports and help desk administrators 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/network support and a help desk administrator. Additionally, a help desk administrator has an average salary of $49,798, which is higher than the $49,480 average annual salary of a desktop/network support.
The top three skills for a desktop/network support include customer service, technical support and software applications. The most important skills for a help desk administrator are customer service, desk support, and troubleshoot.
| Desktop/Network Support | Help Desk Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $49,480 | $49,798 |
| Hourly rate | $23.79 | $23.94 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 119,310 | 130,180 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A desktop/network support is responsible for assisting end-users and customers on their computer and network issues, performing troubleshooting procedures, and guiding them with the step-by-step resolution. Desktop/network supports handle system configuration and upgrades of network components to increase efficiency and optimal performance. They also identify the source of defects by asking questions and creating support tickets for the users. A desktop/network support must have excellent technical and communication skills, especially in writing resolution reports for reference to avoid the reoccurrence of system malfunctions.
Help desk administrator is responsible for handling activities related to system support for their company or organization. They are in charge of providing superb client experiences and working in resolving support issues in a professional and timely manner. One of their primary tasks includes providing login resets and passwords for end-users. In addition, they will also perform innovative systems and network repairs, as well as assist computer information responses as required. Moreover, they support complete equipment set-up, renewal, or termination of a user account, handle server, and domain account changes.
Desktop/network supports and help desk administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Desktop/Network Support | Help Desk Administrator | |
| Average salary | $49,480 | $49,798 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $68,000 | Between $34,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Visa | Houlihan Lokey |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a desktop/network support and a help desk administrator in terms of educational background:
| Desktop/Network Support | Help Desk Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between desktop/network supports' and help desk administrators' demographics:
| Desktop/Network Support | Help Desk Administrator | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.8% Female, 22.2% | Male, 74.3% Female, 25.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 8.8% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |