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The differences between service desk managers and help desk managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a service desk manager, becoming a help desk manager takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a service desk manager has an average salary of $101,229, which is higher than the $96,278 average annual salary of a help desk manager.
The top three skills for a service desk manager include customer service, ITIL and ITSM. The most important skills for a help desk manager are customer service, technical support, and help desk.
| Service Desk Manager | Help Desk Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $101,229 | $96,278 |
| Hourly rate | $48.67 | $46.29 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 69,990 | 75,971 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 2 |
In the information technology industry, a service desk manager resolves technical issues and concerns, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. They typically focus on addressing systems and application errors, troubleshooting problems, providing step-by-step solutions, or referring clients to other services. They may also provide administrative support to offices by managing schedules, preparing and processing documents, and providing technical support. Moreover, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
A help desk manager oversees and coordinates the daily performance of help desk teams, ensuring clients get to receive optimal support and services. They are in charge of setting goals and guidelines, establishing budgets and timelines, performing assessments and inspections, and monitoring the progress of operations, resolving issues or conflicts should any arise. There are also instances when a help desk manager must facilitate the communication between internal and external parties, recruit and train new members of the workforce, and implement policies and procedures to optimize operations.
Service desk managers and help desk managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service Desk Manager | Help Desk Manager | |
| Average salary | $101,229 | $96,278 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $141,000 | Between $74,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Carson City, NV | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | CLEAResult | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a service desk manager and a help desk manager in terms of educational background:
| Service Desk Manager | Help Desk Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between service desk managers' and help desk managers' demographics:
| Service Desk Manager | Help Desk Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.2% Female, 35.8% | Male, 70.3% Female, 29.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 12.6% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |