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The differences between help desk engineers and network support engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a help desk engineer and a network support engineer. Additionally, a network support engineer has an average salary of $86,406, 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 a network support engineer are switches, network support, and OSPF.
| Help Desk Engineer | Network Support Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $52,444 | $86,406 |
| Hourly rate | $25.21 | $41.54 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 100,003 | 113,476 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A network support engineer is an information technology expert who designs and develops computer systems, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Among their responsibilities include performing installations and upgrades, configuring networks, troubleshooting issues, gathering and analyzing data to identify areas needing improvement, and recommending strategies to optimize network operations. They must also provide technical support to staff, address issues and concerns, conduct inspections, and perform repairs. Moreover, a network support engineer must regularly monitor networks while implementing the company's security and safety standards.
Help desk engineers and network support engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Help Desk Engineer | Network Support Engineer | |
| Average salary | $52,444 | $86,406 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $74,000 | Between $66,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Radnor, PA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Bain & Company | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a help desk engineer and a network support engineer in terms of educational background:
| Help Desk Engineer | Network Support Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between help desk engineers' and network support engineers' demographics:
| Help Desk Engineer | Network Support Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.8% Female, 18.2% | Male, 89.2% Female, 10.8% |
| 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, 8.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 13.9% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |