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The differences between desktop support analysts and desk support technicians 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 support analyst and a desk support technician. Additionally, a desktop support analyst has an average salary of $48,674, which is higher than the $40,715 average annual salary of a desk support technician.
The top three skills for a desktop support analyst include desktop support, customer service and computer system. The most important skills for a desk support technician are customer service, technical support, and troubleshoot.
| Desktop Support Analyst | Desk Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $48,674 | $40,715 |
| Hourly rate | $23.40 | $19.57 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 99,621 | 130,485 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A desktop support analyst's role is to develop strategies and systems to improve and coordinate desktop support efforts. Their responsibilities revolve around testing and modifying existing networks and systems, providing corrective measures on issues and concerns, performing regular inspections, troubleshooting, and maintaining inventories on software, hardware, and other applications. Furthermore, as a desktop support analyst, it is essential to respond to calls and correspondence from clients, all while adhering to the policies and regulations of the company.
A desktop support technician is responsible for assisting end-users with their network issues, grant authorization requests, and create user accounts. Desktop support technicians maintain the safety and security of networks, preventing unauthorized access and illegal dissemination of database information. They also handle the software configurations and upgrading the network infrastructure to avoid system downtimes and operational delays. A desktop support technician must have excellent communication and technical skills to monitor systems performance and enhance network navigation.
Desktop support analysts and desk support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Desktop Support Analyst | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $48,674 | $40,715 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $65,000 | Between $26,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Cambridge Associates | BNY Mellon |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a desktop support analyst and a desk support technician in terms of educational background:
| Desktop Support Analyst | Desk Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between desktop support analysts' and desk support technicians' demographics:
| Desktop Support Analyst | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% | Male, 82.6% Female, 17.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 12.3% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 11.7% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |