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The differences between help desk engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a help desk engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $52,444 average annual salary of a help desk engineer.
The top three skills for a help desk engineer include troubleshoot, help-desk support and technical support. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Help Desk Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $52,444 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $25.21 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 100,003 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Help desk engineers solve problems. They have the technical know-how and have the right troubleshooting tools. They are required to set up computer hardware and software for users and events. When individuals have a certain issue or problem relating to their computer, they bring it to the help desk engineer, who then analyzes and provides a solution. Furthermore, they attend to the issues registered by clients via emails, chats, instant messages, or phone calls.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Help desk engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Help Desk Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $52,444 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $74,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Radnor, PA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Bain & Company | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a help desk engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Help Desk Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between help desk engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Help Desk Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.8% Female, 18.2% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 12.2% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 5% |