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The differences between desktop support technicians and desk support 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 technician and a desk support technician. Additionally, a desktop support technician has an average salary of $41,792, which is higher than the $40,715 average annual salary of a desk support technician.
The top three skills for a desktop support technician include customer service, desktop support and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a desk support technician are customer service, technical support, and troubleshoot.
| Desktop Support Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $41,792 | $40,715 |
| Hourly rate | $20.09 | $19.57 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 108,944 | 130,485 |
| Job satisfaction | 1 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A desktop support technician is responsible for troubleshooting defective computer systems, affecting its performance and efficiency. Desktop support technicians must be highly familiar with the technology systems and programming codes to navigate system applications and locate the discrepancy of the system. They keep documentation of the ticket issue and the resolution for reference and quality improvement. A desktop support technician also configures and updates computer systems and networks for better optimization, as well as conducting regular inspections and monitoring the efficiency of installed programs and patches.
A desktop support technician is responsible for assisting end-users with their network issues, grant authorization requests, and create user accounts. Desktop support technicians maintain the safety and security of networks, preventing unauthorized access and illegal dissemination of database information. They also handle the software configurations and upgrading the network infrastructure to avoid system downtimes and operational delays. A desktop support technician must have excellent communication and technical skills to monitor systems performance and enhance network navigation.
Desktop support technicians and desk support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Desktop Support Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $41,792 | $40,715 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $54,000 | Between $26,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | California |
| Best paying company | NTT Data International L.L.C. | BNY Mellon |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a desktop support technician and a desk support technician in terms of educational background:
| Desktop Support Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Computer Information Systems | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between desktop support technicians' and desk support technicians' demographics:
| Desktop Support Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% | Male, 82.6% Female, 17.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 11.7% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 11.7% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |