Network support administrator vs help desk administrator

The differences between network support administrators and help desk administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a network support administrator and a help desk administrator. Additionally, a network support administrator has an average salary of $62,851, which is higher than the $49,798 average annual salary of a help desk administrator.

The top three skills for a network support administrator include windows server, switches and PC. The most important skills for a help desk administrator are customer service, desk support, and troubleshoot.

Network support administrator vs help desk administrator overview

	Network Support Administrator	Help Desk Administrator
Yearly salary	$62,851	$49,798
Hourly rate	$30.22	$23.94
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	164,554	130,180
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

Network support administrator vs help desk administrator salary

Network support administrators and help desk administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Network Support Administrator	Help Desk Administrator
Average salary	$62,851	$49,798
Salary range	Between $42,000 And $92,000	Between $34,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City	Santa Clara, CA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	California	New Jersey
Best paying company	Hologic	Houlihan Lokey
Best paying industry	Technology	Finance

Differences between network support administrator and help desk administrator education

There are a few differences between a network support administrator and a help desk administrator in terms of educational background:

	Network Support Administrator	Help Desk Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common major	Computer Science	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Network support administrator vs help desk administrator demographics

Here are the differences between network support administrators' and help desk administrators' demographics:

	Network Support Administrator	Help Desk Administrator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2%	Male, 74.3% Female, 25.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.1% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 8.8% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between network support administrator and help desk administrator duties and responsibilities

Network support administrator example responsibilities.

Manage VoIP and Cisco phone systems and set up Cisco lab for Cisco/CCNA program.
Manage cloud base hosting for clients including client's network DNS, office 365 and Google Apps.
Manage OS and hardware installations and configurations.
Support DNS and DHCP configuration for corporate and remote locations.
Monitor VMWare virtual machine's performance and disaster recovery replication jobs to Colo.
Perform dual functions within the company: PC and network support for internal staff and ISP support for external customer base.

Help desk administrator example responsibilities.

Create, deploy and manage VMWare virtual desktops as well as configured customize pools for specific operational needs.
Manage the PC refresh program transferring all user data remotely and installing require software applications.
Configure, establish and manage local area network (LAN) connectivity and remote access per customer configuration requirements.
Administer DNS / DHCP servers, work with network administer to make sure the tables are updating correctly.
Administer IP address allocation through DHCP management.
Assist in the deployment of new POS applications and hardware.

Network support administrator vs help desk administrator skills

Common network support administrator skills

Windows Server, 9%
Switches, 6%
PC, 6%
Desktop Support, 5%
Technical Support, 5%
Network Printers, 4%

Common help desk administrator skills

Customer Service, 11%
Desk Support, 7%
Troubleshoot, 6%
Technical Support, 5%
Phone Calls, 4%
Remote Desktop, 4%

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Network Support Administrator vs Help Desk Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

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