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Service desk manager vs systems manager

The differences between service desk managers and systems managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a service desk manager and a systems manager. Additionally, a systems manager has an average salary of $107,156, which is higher than the $101,229 average annual salary of a service desk manager.

The top three skills for a service desk manager include customer service, ITIL and ITSM. The most important skills for a systems manager are customer service, project management, and patients.

Service desk manager vs systems manager overview

Service Desk ManagerSystems Manager
Yearly salary$101,229$107,156
Hourly rate$48.67$51.52
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs69,990145,551
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4747
Years of experience88

What does a service desk manager do?

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.

What does a systems manager do?

A systems manager is responsible for monitoring the operations of the information technology department, evaluating staff performance, developing strategic procedures to maximize productivity, and identifying business opportunities that would generate more revenues and profitability for the company. Systems managers inspect company networks to ensure the efficiency of the technology systems, conducting regular diagnostic tests, and installing upgrades to boost optimization. A systems manager must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command in programming languages and system codes to maintain the security of the company's database.

Service desk manager vs systems manager salary

Service desk managers and systems managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Service Desk ManagerSystems Manager
Average salary$101,229$107,156
Salary rangeBetween $72,000 And $141,000Between $75,000 And $152,000
Highest paying CityCarson City, NVSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyCLEAResultMeta
Best paying industryFinanceTechnology

Differences between service desk manager and systems manager education

There are a few differences between a service desk manager and a systems manager in terms of educational background:

Service Desk ManagerSystems Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University

Service desk manager vs systems manager demographics

Here are the differences between service desk managers' and systems managers' demographics:

Service Desk ManagerSystems Manager
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 64.2% Female, 35.8%Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2%
Race ratioBlack 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, 6.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 12.6% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between service desk manager and systems manager duties and responsibilities

Service desk manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage key financial relationships, working with VIP reps in various institutions.
  • Ensure efficient allocation of resources and skills to achieve contractual KPIs within financial constraints.
  • Deploy and manage environmental controls, backup strategies, ITSM software, and monitoring systems.
  • Manage staff and activities necessary to effectively coordinate the service request fulfillment life-cycle of base on ITSM best practices.
  • Manage all incident and service requests and oversee all change management, configuration management, and release management ITIL processes.
  • Manage LAN software/hardware installation and upgrade efforts.
  • Show more

Systems manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage development teams which programme Java software applications to scan bar-code shipping labels and automate receipt and inventory processes.
  • Manage AutoCAD upgrades and tools.
  • Manage all aspects of PC and Macintosh technical support.
  • Install and manage small office computer network system running AutoCAD.
  • Define and manage execution of testing require for resolving FDA findings.
  • Lead cross-organization team to align company structure to employee base in PeopleSoft.
  • Show more

Service desk manager vs systems manager skills

Common service desk manager skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • ITIL, 8%
  • ITSM, 5%
  • Infrastructure, 4%
  • Technical Support, 4%
  • Service Delivery, 4%
Common systems manager skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Project Management, 10%
  • Patients, 6%
  • Management System, 4%
  • Data Entry, 4%
  • Client Facing, 4%

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