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The differences between information technology technicians and desk support technicians 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 technician and a desk support technician. Additionally, an information technology technician has an average salary of $49,031, which is higher than the $40,715 average annual salary of a desk support technician.
The top three skills for an information technology technician include customer service, troubleshoot and technical support. The most important skills for a desk support technician are customer service, technical support, and troubleshoot.
| Information Technology Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $49,031 | $40,715 |
| Hourly rate | $23.57 | $19.57 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 118,881 | 130,485 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An information technology technician, also known as an IT technician, is responsible for ensuring that all computer systems in a company or organization are running smoothly and efficiently. Their duties primarily revolve around installing and maintaining systems, including software and hardware, and resolving any issues. They also provide technical support such as troubleshooting, navigation, and even system upgrades. Furthermore, an information technology technician can choose whether to work for a company or independently.
A desktop support technician is responsible for assisting end-users with their network issues, grant authorization requests, and create user accounts. Desktop support technicians maintain the safety and security of networks, preventing unauthorized access and illegal dissemination of database information. They also handle the software configurations and upgrading the network infrastructure to avoid system downtimes and operational delays. A desktop support technician must have excellent communication and technical skills to monitor systems performance and enhance network navigation.
Information technology technicians and desk support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $49,031 | $40,715 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $83,000 | Between $26,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Cravath | BNY Mellon |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information technology technician and a desk support technician in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between information technology technicians' and desk support technicians' demographics:
| Information Technology Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.8% Female, 15.2% | Male, 82.6% Female, 17.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 11.8% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 11.7% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |