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Desktop support contractor vs desktop engineer

The differences between desktop support contractors and desktop engineers 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 contractor and a desktop engineer. Additionally, a desktop engineer has an average salary of $102,893, which is higher than the $43,977 average annual salary of a desktop support contractor.

The top three skills for a desktop support contractor include desktop support, laptop computers and PC. The most important skills for a desktop engineer are customer service, SCCM, and troubleshoot.

Desktop support contractor vs desktop engineer overview

Desktop Support ContractorDesktop Engineer
Yearly salary$43,977$102,893
Hourly rate$21.14$49.47
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs110,47287,458
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Desktop support contractor vs desktop engineer salary

Desktop support contractors and desktop engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Desktop Support ContractorDesktop Engineer
Average salary$43,977$102,893
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $65,000Between $77,000 And $136,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Ropes & Gray
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between desktop support contractor and desktop engineer education

There are a few differences between a desktop support contractor and a desktop engineer in terms of educational background:

Desktop Support ContractorDesktop Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorComputer Information SystemsComputer Science
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Desktop support contractor vs desktop engineer demographics

Here are the differences between desktop support contractors' and desktop engineers' demographics:

Desktop Support ContractorDesktop Engineer
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 91.6% Female, 8.4%Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 10.9% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 13.6% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between desktop support contractor and desktop engineer duties and responsibilities

Desktop support contractor example responsibilities.

  • Manage special projects, test and troubleshoot applications, images, etc.
  • Manage LAN infrastructure configuring and maintaining all network hardware devices.
  • Resolve hardware (PC, peripherals, network) and software issues.
  • Re-Establish a stable state for the PC and users.
  • Install and support Novell, Microsoft and Citrix servers.
  • Cloned computer using imaging software (DSM, SCCM).
  • Show more

Desktop engineer example responsibilities.

  • Assign and manage extensions, voicemail accounts using AVAYA phone system.
  • Partner with Microsoft, Symantec and other vendors to manage applications on all corporate desktops.
  • Work on installing, configuring and managing multiple LAN/WAN network technologies (Cisco switches, routers and firewalls).
  • Manage software deployments using SCCM and oversee monitoring of complex applications.
  • Install and troubleshoot LAN connectivity email configurations on end-user workstations.
  • Advance knowledge of LAN's including administration, security and physical cabling.
  • Show more

Desktop support contractor vs desktop engineer skills

Common desktop support contractor skills
  • Desktop Support, 9%
  • Laptop Computers, 8%
  • PC, 7%
  • Remote Desktop, 7%
  • Network Printers, 6%
  • Troubleshoot, 6%
Common desktop engineer skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • SCCM, 9%
  • Troubleshoot, 7%
  • PowerShell, 6%
  • OS, 4%
  • Technical Support, 4%

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