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Service desk analyst vs desktop support analyst

The differences between service desk analysts and desktop support analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a desktop support analyst has an average salary of $48,674, which is higher than the $45,397 average annual salary of a service desk analyst.

The top three skills for a service desk analyst include service desk, customer service and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a desktop support analyst are desktop support, customer service, and computer system.

Service desk analyst vs desktop support analyst overview

Service Desk AnalystDesktop Support Analyst
Yearly salary$45,397$48,674
Hourly rate$21.83$23.40
Growth rate-10%
Number of jobs55,82899,621
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age3742
Years of experience-2

What does a service desk analyst do?

Service Desk Analysts are information technology (IT) employees who usually oversee the helpdesk hotline of the IT department. They address the technical concerns of other employees or even clients of the company. They also help in installing, repairing, and maintaining the different IT systems in the company. Service Desk Analysts resolve issues related to software, hardware, and other related systems. They also manage information related to these concerns and analyze these concerns. They identify trends or patterns and anticipate concerns that might come in the future. Service Desk Analysts may recommend steps to ensure that these concerns will not come up again.

What does a desktop support analyst do?

A desktop support analyst's role is to develop strategies and systems to improve and coordinate desktop support efforts. Their responsibilities revolve around testing and modifying existing networks and systems, providing corrective measures on issues and concerns, performing regular inspections, troubleshooting, and maintaining inventories on software, hardware, and other applications. Furthermore, as a desktop support analyst, it is essential to respond to calls and correspondence from clients, all while adhering to the policies and regulations of the company.

Service desk analyst vs desktop support analyst salary

Service desk analysts and desktop support analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

Service Desk AnalystDesktop Support Analyst
Average salary$45,397$48,674
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $67,000Between $36,000 And $65,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyThe CitadelCambridge Associates
Best paying industryTechnologyFinance

Differences between service desk analyst and desktop support analyst education

There are a few differences between a service desk analyst and a desktop support analyst in terms of educational background:

Service Desk AnalystDesktop Support Analyst
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorInformation TechnologyComputer Science
Most common college-Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Service desk analyst vs desktop support analyst demographics

Here are the differences between service desk analysts' and desktop support analysts' demographics:

Service Desk AnalystDesktop Support Analyst
Average age3742
Gender ratioMale, 74.4% Female, 25.6%Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 12.3% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 12.3% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage13%11%

Differences between service desk analyst and desktop support analyst duties and responsibilities

Service desk analyst example responsibilities.

  • Used SharePoint to manage and enter in help desk ticket information for health information exchange and electronic health record vendor issues.
  • Design and manage company wide imaging infrastructure.
  • Best-Inform administrator managing application from UNIX server.
  • Manage OS re-imaging and data recovery for rent equipment.
  • Manage security, reliability, and configurations for data backup and recovery for client workstations.
  • Diagnose, investigate and report operational systems errors using Citrix and ITSM.
  • Show more

Desktop support analyst example responsibilities.

  • Manage LAN infrastructure configuring and maintaining all network hardware devices.
  • Provide hardware and software support, coordinate and implement high volume workstation deployments, troubleshoot and administrate IEC production workstations.
  • Configure several software applications for use in CITRIX XenApp.
  • Maintain current patch levels for desktop OS and applications issues to isolate problem, then resolve or escalate as needed.
  • Establish connections through VPN, SSLVPN, and homegrown applications for remote access to network resources on laptops & mobile devices.
  • Complete Citrix training for installation and maintenance of computer servers.
  • Show more

Service desk analyst vs desktop support analyst skills

Common service desk analyst skills
  • Service Desk, 15%
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Troubleshoot, 6%
  • Technical Support, 6%
  • Phone Calls, 3%
  • ITIL, 3%
Common desktop support analyst skills
  • Desktop Support, 11%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Computer System, 8%
  • Software Issues, 7%
  • Technical Problems, 6%
  • Troubleshoot, 5%

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