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The differences between infrastructure engineers and desktop engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an infrastructure engineer and a desktop engineer. Additionally, an infrastructure engineer has an average salary of $106,438, which is higher than the $102,893 average annual salary of a desktop engineer.
The top three skills for an infrastructure engineer include python, cloud and linux. The most important skills for a desktop engineer are customer service, SCCM, and troubleshoot.
| Infrastructure Engineer | Desktop Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $106,438 | $102,893 |
| Hourly rate | $51.17 | $49.47 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 91,845 | 87,458 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
As an infrastructure engineer, they're responsible for designing, deploying, and maintaining the IT infrastructure using the newest technology and ensure all the systems within an organization function seamlessly. They ensure all the IT systems are updated to support the business to function effectively. It is also their job to maintain internet connections, cabling, virtualization platforms, and storage area networks. Moreover, they oversee the IT infrastructure engineer system administration middleware application servers, like Oracle Weblogic server, IBM WebSphere server, and automated workflow tools.
A desktop engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and performance of computer systems across the organization to deliver high-performance on business operations and client specifications. Desktop engineers resolve computer desktop issues, including navigation and security complications that create delays in the operational process. They conduct regular maintenance with the computer systems, upgrade network infrastructure, and perform configuration to ensure smooth functionality and resolutions. A desktop engineer should have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, recommending system solutions to avoid the reoccurrence of network issues and glitches.
Infrastructure engineers and desktop engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Infrastructure Engineer | Desktop Engineer | |
| Average salary | $106,438 | $102,893 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $148,000 | Between $77,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Credit Karma | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between an infrastructure engineer and a desktop engineer in terms of educational background:
| Infrastructure Engineer | Desktop Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between infrastructure engineers' and desktop engineers' demographics:
| Infrastructure Engineer | Desktop Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 13.0% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 13.6% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |