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The differences between information systems technicians and help desk specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an information systems technician, becoming a help desk specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a help desk specialist has an average salary of $51,065, which is higher than the $46,346 average annual salary of an information systems technician.
The top three skills for an information systems technician include customer service, troubleshoot and technical support. The most important skills for a help desk specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Information Systems Technician | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $46,346 | $51,065 |
| Hourly rate | $22.28 | $24.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 173,424 | 75,004 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
An information systems technician is responsible for maintaining the efficiency of various network systems' performance. Information systems technicians provide network troubleshooting, upgrading systems for optimization, maintaining the security of databases, managing the interaction of networks, and inspecting and troubleshooting system inconsistencies. Additional duties include creating network designs based on clients' specifications, configuring software and hardware applications, and creating reports on system issues and resolutions. An information systems technician must have excellent knowledge of information systems procedures, programming languages, detecting malfunctions, and making resolutions promptly.
The primary role of help desk specialists is to maintain relationships between the company and its customers. Their duties and responsibilities include responding to guests' queries, providing technical computer support, and maintaining computer systems' performance. Help desk specialists are also responsible for following up with customers to resolve issues and train computer users. There are several requirements to be qualified for this position, which include having relevant customer service experience, problem-solving and analytical skills, and the ability to prioritize vital tasks.
Information systems technicians and help desk specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Systems Technician | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average salary | $46,346 | $51,065 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $74,000 | Between $35,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rahway, NJ | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett | Schulte Roth & Zabel |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information systems technician and a help desk specialist in terms of educational background:
| Information Systems Technician | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between information systems technicians' and help desk specialists' demographics:
| Information Systems Technician | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.6% Female, 26.4% | Male, 79.4% Female, 20.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 11.6% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |