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The differences between desktop support analysts and information systems technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a desktop support analyst, becoming an information systems technician takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a desktop support analyst has an average salary of $48,674, which is higher than the $46,346 average annual salary of an information systems technician.
The top three skills for a desktop support analyst include desktop support, customer service and computer system. The most important skills for an information systems technician are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Desktop Support Analyst | Information Systems Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $48,674 | $46,346 |
| Hourly rate | $23.40 | $22.28 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 99,621 | 173,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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.
An information systems technician is responsible for maintaining the efficiency of various network systems' performance. Information systems technicians provide network troubleshooting, upgrading systems for optimization, maintaining the security of databases, managing the interaction of networks, and inspecting and troubleshooting system inconsistencies. Additional duties include creating network designs based on clients' specifications, configuring software and hardware applications, and creating reports on system issues and resolutions. An information systems technician must have excellent knowledge of information systems procedures, programming languages, detecting malfunctions, and making resolutions promptly.
Desktop support analysts and information systems technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Desktop Support Analyst | Information Systems Technician | |
| Average salary | $48,674 | $46,346 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $65,000 | Between $28,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Rahway, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Cambridge Associates | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between a desktop support analyst and an information systems technician in terms of educational background:
| Desktop Support Analyst | Information Systems Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between desktop support analysts' and information systems technicians' demographics:
| Desktop Support Analyst | Information Systems Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% | Male, 73.6% Female, 26.4% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |