Post job

Desktop service technician vs network technician

The differences between desktop service technicians and network technicians 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 network technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a network technician has an average salary of $68,938, 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 network technician are customer service, switches, and troubleshoot.

Desktop service technician vs network technician overview

Desktop Service TechnicianNetwork Technician
Yearly salary$55,718$68,938
Hourly rate$26.79$33.14
Growth rate8%5%
Number of jobs90,83279,712
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age4443
Years of experience122

Desktop service technician vs network technician salary

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

Desktop Service TechnicianNetwork Technician
Average salary$55,718$68,938
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $77,000Between $51,000 And $92,000
Highest paying City-Urban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between desktop service technician and network technician education

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

Desktop Service TechnicianNetwork Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorComputer ScienceComputer Science
Most common college-University of Pennsylvania

Desktop service technician vs network technician demographics

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

Desktop Service TechnicianNetwork Technician
Average age4443
Gender ratioMale, 89.6% Female, 10.4%Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7%
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, 8.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.4% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage1%9%

Differences between desktop service technician and network technician 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.
  • Show more

Network technician example responsibilities.

  • Install and manage DHCP servers including setting up DHCP scopes, enabling DHCP clients, viewing and managing active leases.
  • Manage city wide IIS deployment.
  • Manage Virtualization system, using ESX server/client.
  • Install, configure and manage Symantec Antivirus on all network computers
  • Use Symantec BackupExec to manage and maintain all server backups and file restorations.
  • Manage company Cisco series routers, switches, and ASA firewall integrate into MPLS network.
  • Show more

Desktop service technician vs network technician skills

Common desktop service technician skills
  • PC, 11%
  • Desktop Support, 5%
  • VoIP, 5%
  • Remote Desktop, 5%
  • Software Issues, 5%
  • Network Printers, 5%
Common network technician skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Switches, 6%
  • Troubleshoot, 6%
  • Routers, 4%
  • Lan Wan, 3%
  • Lan, 3%

Browse installation, maintenance and repair jobs