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Help desk supervisor vs help desk analyst

The differences between help desk supervisors and help desk analysts 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 supervisor and a help desk analyst. Additionally, a help desk supervisor has an average salary of $64,297, which is higher than the $37,318 average annual salary of a help desk analyst.

The top three skills for a help desk supervisor include customer service, technical support and operational procedures. The most important skills for a help desk analyst are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.

Help desk supervisor vs help desk analyst overview

Help Desk SupervisorHelp Desk Analyst
Yearly salary$64,297$37,318
Hourly rate$30.91$17.94
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs72,24087,591
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

What does a help desk supervisor do?

A Help Desk Supervisor oversees and evaluates the daily operations of help desk teams to ensure that customers receive optimal services. They have the authority to set short and long-term goals, establish guidelines and employee schedules, liaise with external business partners, delegate tasks among staff, and monitor operations' progress, resolving complicated issues and concerns. They also review documents and reports that employees regularly submit to ensure that all operations run smoothly and efficiently. Moreover, a Help Desk Supervisor leads and encourages teams to reach goals while implementing its policies and regulations.

What does a help desk analyst do?

Help Desk Analysts generally provide technical support by assisting customers with their system issues. These analysts are expected to be highly knowledgeable about application processes and basic troubleshooting. Help Desk Analysts usually communicate with end-users through phone calls or e-mail and are required to attend on customers technical issues promptly. Depending on the expertise, the Help Desk Analysts are often categorized to support levels wherein the most complex issues are often handle by the highest tier. The Help Desk Analysts must have critical-thinking skills on solving network problems and document specific concerns and progress.

Help desk supervisor vs help desk analyst salary

Help desk supervisors and help desk analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

Help Desk SupervisorHelp Desk Analyst
Average salary$64,297$37,318
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $94,000Between $26,000 And $52,000
Highest paying City-Boston, MA
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between help desk supervisor and help desk analyst education

There are a few differences between a help desk supervisor and a help desk analyst in terms of educational background:

Help Desk SupervisorHelp Desk Analyst
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorBusinessComputer Information Systems
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Help desk supervisor vs help desk analyst demographics

Here are the differences between help desk supervisors' and help desk analysts' demographics:

Help Desk SupervisorHelp Desk Analyst
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 66.4% Female, 33.6%Male, 71.8% Female, 28.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 11.1% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between help desk supervisor and help desk analyst duties and responsibilities

Help desk supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage LAN software/hardware installation and upgrade efforts.
  • Provide remote implementation support for IBM POS solution.
  • Provide phone support for network and remote VPN users with connectivity issues.
  • Assist remote users with VPN, RAS, and RNA connection problems.
  • Negotiate the leasing and storage of OS specific hardware for deadline driven system upgrades.
  • Assist in setting up and troubleshooting port security on switches through command line CLI.
  • Show more

Help desk analyst example responsibilities.

  • Used Java script for client side validations and to achieve other client-side functionality.
  • Manage TCP/IP base campus data communications facilities.
  • Manage security, reliability, and configurations for data backup and recovery for client workstations.
  • Resolve technical issues with software applications, PCs, connectivity problems, and software/hardware installations and administrations.
  • Analyze and resolve issues with Linux and Java base POS systems.
  • Provide user access support via VPN, SSL/VPN, CITRIX, for authentication and account issues.
  • Show more

Help desk supervisor vs help desk analyst skills

Common help desk supervisor skills
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Technical Support, 9%
  • Operational Procedures, 8%
  • Help Desk, 6%
  • Desk Support, 5%
  • Level Agreements, 4%
Common help desk analyst skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Troubleshoot, 9%
  • Technical Support, 6%
  • Phone Calls, 4%
  • Remote Desktop, 3%
  • Technical Issues, 3%

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