Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between senior desktop support technicians and network 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 senior desktop support technician and a network support technician. Additionally, a senior desktop support technician has an average salary of $58,384, which is higher than the $48,622 average annual salary of a network support technician.
The top three skills for a senior desktop support technician include desktop support, troubleshoot and PC. The most important skills for a network support technician are troubleshoot, technical support, and customer service.
| Senior Desktop Support Technician | Network Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $58,384 | $48,622 |
| Hourly rate | $28.07 | $23.38 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 107,160 | 120,245 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A senior desktop support technician must look after customer projects and guide desktop technicians on their team. Customers often come to companies for troubleshooting issues with their computers. A senior desktop support technician maintains customer relationships, maintains hardware and software standards, and manages computer activities. This position requires a bachelor's degree.
A network support technician specializes in optimizing a company's information technology (IT) networks for a smooth and efficient workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around addressing issues and concerns, troubleshooting, installing systems, executing upgrades, conducting diagnostic tests, and performing corrective measures as needed. They must also coordinate with staff in developing new IT systems, evaluate existing networks for areas needing improvement, and develop protocols while adhering to the company's policies and regulations. Furthermore, as a network support technician, it is essential to maintain regular network maintenance checks to ensure the security and safety of company data.
Senior desktop support technicians and network support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Desktop Support Technician | Network Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $58,384 | $48,622 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $85,000 | Between $38,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Troy, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | - | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior desktop support technician and a network support technician in terms of educational background:
| Senior Desktop Support Technician | Network Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior desktop support technicians' and network support technicians' demographics:
| Senior Desktop Support Technician | Network Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.5% Female, 7.5% | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 11.4% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.7% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |