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The differences between hardware 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 hardware technician and a desk support technician. Additionally, a hardware technician has an average salary of $47,851, which is higher than the $40,715 average annual salary of a desk support technician.
The top three skills for a hardware technician include customer service, technical support and network printers. The most important skills for a desk support technician are customer service, technical support, and troubleshoot.
| Hardware Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $47,851 | $40,715 |
| Hourly rate | $23.01 | $19.57 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 85,174 | 130,485 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A hardware technician is typically in charge of providing technical support to clients or employees, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. In a company setting, a hardware technician is responsible for performing initial assessments on computer hardware, troubleshooting, diagnosing problems, and providing step by step solutions to solve the issues. They may also perform corrective repairs on problems and conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure the quality of equipment. Furthermore, as a hardware technician, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
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.
Hardware technicians and desk support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hardware Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $47,851 | $40,715 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $71,000 | Between $26,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | BNY Mellon |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a hardware technician and a desk support technician in terms of educational background:
| Hardware Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between hardware technicians' and desk support technicians' demographics:
| Hardware Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% | Male, 82.6% Female, 17.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 55.3% 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% |