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The differences between desktop support analysts and network support analysts 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 network support analyst. Additionally, a network support analyst has an average salary of $83,921, which is higher than the $48,674 average annual salary of a desktop support analyst.
The top three skills for a desktop support analyst include desktop support, customer service and computer system. The most important skills for a network support analyst are troubleshoot, switches, and routers.
| Desktop Support Analyst | Network Support Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $48,674 | $83,921 |
| Hourly rate | $23.40 | $40.35 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 99,621 | 118,825 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| 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.
Network support analysts are professionals who provide technical support as well as maintain various network components for an organization's network system. These analysts are responsible for installing and configuring local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), internet systems, and other components of network systems. They are required to monitor the performance of networks and systems and align network use and access by using master consoles. Network support analysts must also organize and deploy security measures for the network so that they can safeguard software, hardware, and data.
Desktop support analysts and network support analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Desktop Support Analyst | Network Support Analyst | |
| Average salary | $48,674 | $83,921 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $65,000 | Between $54,000 And $128,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Cambridge Associates | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a desktop support analyst and a network support analyst in terms of educational background:
| Desktop Support Analyst | Network Support Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between desktop support analysts' and network support analysts' demographics:
| Desktop Support Analyst | Network Support Analyst | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% | Male, 84.3% Female, 15.7% |
| 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, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 10.9% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |