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The differences between network support analysts and desktop support consultants 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 analyst and a desktop support consultant. Additionally, a network support analyst has an average salary of $83,921, which is higher than the $46,733 average annual salary of a desktop support consultant.
The top three skills for a network support analyst include troubleshoot, switches and routers. The most important skills for a desktop support consultant are desktop support, customer service, and troubleshoot.
| Network Support Analyst | Desktop Support Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $83,921 | $46,733 |
| Hourly rate | $40.35 | $22.47 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 118,825 | 100,650 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Network support analysts are professionals who provide technical support as well as maintain various network components for an organization's network system. These analysts are responsible for installing and configuring local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), internet systems, and other components of network systems. They are required to monitor the performance of networks and systems and align network use and access by using master consoles. Network support analysts must also organize and deploy security measures for the network so that they can safeguard software, hardware, and data.
The duties of a desk support consultant vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Most of their responsibilities are likely to revolve around reaching out to clients through calls and correspondence, answering inquiries, troubleshooting, and providing corrective measures, all to attain customer satisfaction. Moreover, a desk support consultant may devise strategies to better communicate with clients, produce progress reports, and maintain accurate records of all transactions. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to all policies and regulations at all times.
Network support analysts and desktop support consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Network Support Analyst | Desktop Support Consultant | |
| Average salary | $83,921 | $46,733 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $128,000 | Between $33,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Meta | NTT Data International L.L.C. |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a network support analyst and a desktop support consultant in terms of educational background:
| Network Support Analyst | Desktop Support Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between network support analysts' and desktop support consultants' demographics:
| Network Support Analyst | Desktop Support Consultant | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.3% Female, 15.7% | Male, 85.0% Female, 15.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 10.9% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 13.5% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |