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The differences between network 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 a network technician and a desk support technician. Additionally, a network technician has an average salary of $68,938, which is higher than the $40,715 average annual salary of a desk support technician.
The top three skills for a network technician include customer service, switches and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a desk support technician are customer service, technical support, and troubleshoot.
| Network Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $68,938 | $40,715 |
| Hourly rate | $33.14 | $19.57 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 79,712 | 130,485 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A network technician is responsible for system malfunction diagnosis and troubleshooting operations. Network technicians duties' include repairing damaged system components, analyzing computer systems and blueprints, installing network connections, and upgrading accessories for efficient operations. Other duties include assisting customers with technical issues, ensuring computer systems' privacy, creating documents of network issues and resolutions, and suggesting alternative equipment for network backups. A network technician must have a broad knowledge of the technology industry and mechanical processes, plus the ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision.
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.
Network technicians and desk support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Network Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $68,938 | $40,715 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $92,000 | Between $26,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | BNY Mellon |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a network technician and a desk support technician in terms of educational background:
| Network Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between network technicians' and desk support technicians' demographics:
| Network Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7% | Male, 82.6% Female, 17.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.4% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 9% | 11% |