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The differences between senior desktop engineers and technical support engineers 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 technical support engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior desktop engineer has an average salary of $114,786, which is higher than the $85,716 average annual salary of a technical support engineer.
The top three skills for a senior desktop engineer include SCCM, powershell and infrastructure. The most important skills for a technical support engineer are technical support, customer service, and troubleshoot.
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Technical Support Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $114,786 | $85,716 |
| Hourly rate | $55.19 | $41.21 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 264,973 | 184,542 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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.
A technical support engineer is responsible for responding to customer issues, providing immediate resolutions to their system issues through remote assistance. Technical support engineers must have strong knowledge of software and hardware applications to diagnose system defects and process troubleshooting. They also assist customers with the installation of programs and updates to improve system performance, escalating high-level concerns to appropriate internal technology teams. A technical support engineer must have strong command with technical systems, as well as excellent communication and time-management skills to understand clients' issues while documenting procedures.
Senior desktop engineers and technical support engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Technical Support Engineer | |
| Average salary | $114,786 | $85,716 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $151,000 | Between $61,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Bloomberg | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior desktop engineer and a technical support engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Technical Support Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between senior desktop engineers' and technical support engineers' demographics:
| Senior Desktop Engineer | Technical Support Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1% | Male, 83.3% Female, 16.7% |
| 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, 9.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |