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The differences between field support specialists and help desk specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a field support specialist and a help desk specialist. Additionally, a help desk specialist has an average salary of $51,065, which is higher than the $42,023 average annual salary of a field support specialist.
The top three skills for a field support specialist include technical support, customer satisfaction and customer service. The most important skills for a help desk specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Field Support Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $42,023 | $51,065 |
| Hourly rate | $20.20 | $24.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 147,629 | 75,004 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Field support specialists are expert professionals who are involved in performing duties related to on-site support. These specialists are required to provide technical support and solutions for technicians working on commercial job sites as well as customers in their homes or companies. They must work with team members to set up new office equipment and workstation and resolve any outstanding concerns surrounding the product setup. Field support specialists must also train new employees on the process of customer service to retain customers.
The primary role of help desk specialists is to maintain relationships between the company and its customers. Their duties and responsibilities include responding to guests' queries, providing technical computer support, and maintaining computer systems' performance. Help desk specialists are also responsible for following up with customers to resolve issues and train computer users. There are several requirements to be qualified for this position, which include having relevant customer service experience, problem-solving and analytical skills, and the ability to prioritize vital tasks.
Field support specialists and help desk specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Support Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average salary | $42,023 | $51,065 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $66,000 | Between $35,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Continental Resources | Schulte Roth & Zabel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a field support specialist and a help desk specialist in terms of educational background:
| Field Support Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between field support specialists' and help desk specialists' demographics:
| Field Support Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.8% Female, 44.2% | Male, 79.4% Female, 20.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 11.6% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |