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Desktop service technician vs desktop engineer

The differences between desktop service technicians and desktop engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a desktop service technician, becoming a desktop engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a desktop engineer has an average salary of $102,893, which is higher than the $55,718 average annual salary of a desktop service technician.

The top three skills for a desktop service technician include PC, desktop support and voip. The most important skills for a desktop engineer are customer service, SCCM, and troubleshoot.

Desktop service technician vs desktop engineer overview

Desktop Service TechnicianDesktop Engineer
Yearly salary$55,718$102,893
Hourly rate$26.79$49.47
Growth rate8%10%
Number of jobs90,83287,458
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4442
Years of experience122

Desktop service technician vs desktop engineer salary

Desktop service technicians and desktop engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Desktop Service TechnicianDesktop Engineer
Average salary$55,718$102,893
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $77,000Between $77,000 And $136,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Ropes & Gray
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between desktop service technician and desktop engineer education

There are a few differences between a desktop service technician and a desktop engineer in terms of educational background:

Desktop Service TechnicianDesktop Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorComputer ScienceComputer Science
Most common college-Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Desktop service technician vs desktop engineer demographics

Here are the differences between desktop service technicians' and desktop engineers' demographics:

Desktop Service TechnicianDesktop Engineer
Average age4442
Gender ratioMale, 89.6% Female, 10.4%Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 1.7% White, 71.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage1%11%

Differences between desktop service technician and desktop engineer duties and responsibilities

Desktop service technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage LAN infrastructure configuring and maintaining all network hardware devices.
  • Support VPN and VDI connections for remote workers.
  • Image and install OS and applications on desktops and laptops.
  • Assist users with VPN installation and setup to access network remotely.
  • Provide technical assistance in virus cleanup, configuration and installation of new workstations and computer training facility setup.
  • Deploy Microsoft SMS packages to add windows updates, anit-virus updates, and all other software packages via Microsoft SMS.
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Desktop engineer example responsibilities.

  • Assign and manage extensions, voicemail accounts using AVAYA phone system.
  • Partner with Microsoft, Symantec and other vendors to manage applications on all corporate desktops.
  • Work on installing, configuring and managing multiple LAN/WAN network technologies (Cisco switches, routers and firewalls).
  • Manage software deployments using SCCM and oversee monitoring of complex applications.
  • Install and troubleshoot LAN connectivity email configurations on end-user workstations.
  • Advance knowledge of LAN's including administration, security and physical cabling.
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Desktop service technician vs desktop engineer skills

Common desktop service technician skills
  • PC, 11%
  • Desktop Support, 5%
  • VoIP, 5%
  • Remote Desktop, 5%
  • Software Issues, 5%
  • Network Printers, 5%
Common desktop engineer skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • SCCM, 9%
  • Troubleshoot, 7%
  • PowerShell, 6%
  • OS, 4%
  • Technical Support, 4%

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