Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between information technology specialists and help desk specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an information technology specialist and a help desk specialist. Additionally, an information technology specialist has an average salary of $81,241, which is higher than the $51,065 average annual salary of a help desk specialist.
The top three skills for an information technology specialist include customer service, troubleshoot and computer system. The most important skills for a help desk specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Information Technology Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $81,241 | $51,065 |
| Hourly rate | $39.06 | $24.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 122,519 | 75,004 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An Information Technology Specialist, also known as a Computer Professional or IT Specialist, is responsible for the computer support of an establishment or individual. Most of the duties require extensive and proactive knowledge of Information Technology, such as in the aspects of network and systems administration, security and information, hardware and software management, troubleshooting, and more. The tasks of an IT Specialist are diverse. It is not limited to installation or activation, as it also involves monitoring, management, and analyzation.
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 technology specialists and help desk specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average salary | $81,241 | $51,065 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $113,000 | Between $35,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Schulte Roth & Zabel | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information technology specialist and a help desk specialist in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between information technology specialists' and help desk specialists' demographics:
| Information Technology Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.8% Female, 22.2% | Male, 79.4% Female, 20.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 11.9% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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% |