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The differences between senior desktop engineers and help desk specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a senior desktop engineer, becoming a help desk specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior desktop engineer has an average salary of $114,786, which is higher than the $51,065 average annual salary of a help desk specialist.
The top three skills for a senior desktop engineer include SCCM, powershell and infrastructure. The most important skills for a help desk specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $114,786 | $51,065 |
| Hourly rate | $55.19 | $24.55 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 264,973 | 75,004 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A senior desktop engineer identifies problems within computer systems and troubleshoots technical issues. They may also be responsible for creating software images, developing software, and updating schedules. This position requires knowledge in network troubleshooting, DNA storage, and problem-solving skills.
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.
Senior desktop engineers and help desk specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average salary | $114,786 | $51,065 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $151,000 | Between $35,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Bloomberg | Schulte Roth & Zabel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior desktop engineer and a help desk specialist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior desktop engineers' and help desk specialists' demographics:
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1% | Male, 79.4% Female, 20.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 8% | 11% |