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Help desk team lead vs technical support specialist

The differences between help desk team leads and technical support specialists 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 team lead and a technical support specialist. Additionally, a help desk team lead has an average salary of $72,204, which is higher than the $48,667 average annual salary of a technical support specialist.

The top three skills for a help desk team lead include technical support, desk support and help desk. The most important skills for a technical support specialist are customer service, technical support, and troubleshoot.

Help desk team lead vs technical support specialist overview

Help Desk Team LeadTechnical Support Specialist
Yearly salary$72,204$48,667
Hourly rate$34.71$23.40
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs63,491157,425
Job satisfaction-4.6
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Help desk team lead vs technical support specialist salary

Help desk team leads and technical support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Help Desk Team LeadTechnical Support Specialist
Average salary$72,204$48,667
Salary rangeBetween $57,000 And $90,000Between $30,000 And $76,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Meta
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between help desk team lead and technical support specialist education

There are a few differences between a help desk team lead and a technical support specialist in terms of educational background:

Help Desk Team LeadTechnical Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorBusinessComputer Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Help desk team lead vs technical support specialist demographics

Here are the differences between help desk team leads' and technical support specialists' demographics:

Help Desk Team LeadTechnical Support Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 67.2% Female, 32.8%Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 11.3% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between help desk team lead and technical support specialist duties and responsibilities

Help desk team lead example responsibilities.

  • Lead testing of pilot VPN software; configure technologies to aid in managing Windows/mainframe accounts.
  • Assist in managing SQL database ensuring network connectivity, integrity of data and schedule tasks are complete.
  • Manage the wireless accounts for all user's providing replacements and troubleshoot cell phone issues and billing questions.
  • Improve efficiency and reduce risk by developing managing concepts and projects for ITIL process development for service delivery.
  • Implement TCP/IP core networking services.
  • Assist setup of CITRIX for end users.
  • Show more

Technical support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Implement hardware and software upgrades and maintain stability, usability, and security for desktop/laptop/mobile systems; achieve SLA's.
  • Manage all operating end-user software including JavaScript - updating/installing Java.
  • Install, configure and manage proprietary applications on Unix servers.
  • Manage large-scale PC deployments including site surveys involving verification of network activity and appropriate power availability.
  • Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.
  • Deploy and troubleshoot complex software installations in Microsoft and Linux environments.
  • Show more

Help desk team lead vs technical support specialist skills

Common help desk team lead skills
  • Technical Support, 11%
  • Desk Support, 7%
  • Help Desk, 5%
  • Remedy, 5%
  • SLA, 4%
  • ITIL, 4%
Common technical support specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Technical Support, 10%
  • Troubleshoot, 8%
  • Math, 4%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 3%
  • Phone Calls, 3%

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