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The differences between remote support specialists and help desk specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a remote support specialist and a help desk specialist. Additionally, a help desk specialist has an average salary of $51,065, which is higher than the $43,180 average annual salary of a remote support specialist.
The top three skills for a remote support specialist include customer service, PC and technical support. The most important skills for a help desk specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Remote Support Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $43,180 | $51,065 |
| Hourly rate | $20.76 | $24.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 129,512 | 75,004 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A remote support specialist is responsible for assisting customers and end-users on their network and system issues through electronic communications. These support specialists diagnose technical problems by analyzing customers' statements and conduct immediate troubleshooting procedures, advising clients the instructions to prevent the reoccurrence of system failures. They also recommend system upgrades and installation to boost the system's optimization and operational efficiency. A remote support specialist must have excellent technical and communication skills, especially in writing resolution reports and collaborating with the technical team for process improvement techniques.
The primary role of help desk specialists is to maintain relationships between the company and its customers. Their duties and responsibilities include responding to guests' queries, providing technical computer support, and maintaining computer systems' performance. Help desk specialists are also responsible for following up with customers to resolve issues and train computer users. There are several requirements to be qualified for this position, which include having relevant customer service experience, problem-solving and analytical skills, and the ability to prioritize vital tasks.
Remote support specialists and help desk specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Remote Support Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average salary | $43,180 | $51,065 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $61,000 | Between $35,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | CDM Smith | Schulte Roth & Zabel |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a remote support specialist and a help desk specialist in terms of educational background:
| Remote Support Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between remote support specialists' and help desk specialists' demographics:
| Remote Support Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.3% Female, 38.7% | Male, 79.4% Female, 20.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 10.9% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 11.6% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |