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The differences between help desk engineers and systems administrators 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 systems administrator. Additionally, a systems administrator has an average salary of $77,156, 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 systems administrator are linux, troubleshoot, and windows server.
| Help Desk Engineer | Systems Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $52,444 | $77,156 |
| Hourly rate | $25.21 | $37.09 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 100,003 | 134,500 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| 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.
Systems administrators are employees who oversee information technology infrastructures in the office. They are skilled information technology professionals who are knowledgeable about the company's network systems and other technology-related infrastructures. They are responsible for installing, configuring, or updating network systems, software, and hardware. They also monitor the different systems and troubleshoot any issues that users may encounter. Systems administrators manage the access of users, ensure the security of the network, and address any challenges that users may have. They conduct repairs and routine maintenance to ensure that the systems in place are in the best shape.
Help desk engineers and systems administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Help Desk Engineer | Systems Administrator | |
| Average salary | $52,444 | $77,156 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $74,000 | Between $59,000 And $100,000 |
| 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 systems administrator in terms of educational background:
| Help Desk Engineer | Systems Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between help desk engineers' and systems administrators' demographics:
| Help Desk Engineer | Systems Administrator | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.8% Female, 18.2% | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% |
| 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, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 11.5% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |