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The differences between desktop support consultants and information technology 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 consultant and an information technology technician. Additionally, an information technology technician has an average salary of $49,031, which is higher than the $46,733 average annual salary of a desktop support consultant.
The top three skills for a desktop support consultant include desktop support, customer service and troubleshoot. The most important skills for an information technology technician are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Desktop Support Consultant | Information Technology Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $46,733 | $49,031 |
| Hourly rate | $22.47 | $23.57 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 100,650 | 118,881 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
The duties of a desk support consultant vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Most of their responsibilities are likely to revolve around reaching out to clients through calls and correspondence, answering inquiries, troubleshooting, and providing corrective measures, all to attain customer satisfaction. Moreover, a desk support consultant may devise strategies to better communicate with clients, produce progress reports, and maintain accurate records of all transactions. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to all policies and regulations at all times.
An information technology technician, also known as an IT technician, is responsible for ensuring that all computer systems in a company or organization are running smoothly and efficiently. Their duties primarily revolve around installing and maintaining systems, including software and hardware, and resolving any issues. They also provide technical support such as troubleshooting, navigation, and even system upgrades. Furthermore, an information technology technician can choose whether to work for a company or independently.
Desktop support consultants and information technology technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Desktop Support Consultant | Information Technology Technician | |
| Average salary | $46,733 | $49,031 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $64,000 | Between $28,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | NTT Data International L.L.C. | Cravath |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a desktop support consultant and an information technology technician in terms of educational background:
| Desktop Support Consultant | Information Technology Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between desktop support consultants' and information technology technicians' demographics:
| Desktop Support Consultant | Information Technology Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.0% Female, 15.0% | Male, 84.8% Female, 15.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 13.5% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 11.8% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |