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The differences between desktop support specialists and desktop 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 specialist and a desktop support analyst. Additionally, a desktop support analyst has an average salary of $48,674, which is higher than the $44,962 average annual salary of a desktop support specialist.
The top three skills for a desktop support specialist include customer service, desktop support and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a desktop support analyst are desktop support, customer service, and computer system.
| Desktop Support Specialist | Desktop Support Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $44,962 | $48,674 |
| Hourly rate | $21.62 | $23.40 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 102,191 | 99,621 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A Desktop Support Specialist is focused on troubleshooting different software packages, hardware devices, and other peripherals. They monitor the performance of the company's desktop infrastructure.
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.
Desktop support specialists and desktop support analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Desktop Support Specialist | Desktop Support Analyst | |
| Average salary | $44,962 | $48,674 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $59,000 | Between $36,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New York |
| Best paying company | Cornerstone Research | Cambridge Associates |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a desktop support specialist and a desktop support analyst in terms of educational background:
| Desktop Support Specialist | Desktop Support Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between desktop support specialists' and desktop support analysts' demographics:
| Desktop Support Specialist | Desktop Support Analyst | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.6% Female, 12.4% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 12.3% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |