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The differences between services desk 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 services desk technician and a network support technician. Additionally, a network support technician has an average salary of $48,622, which is higher than the $42,123 average annual salary of a services desk technician.
The top three skills for a services desk technician include service desk, customer service and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a network support technician are troubleshoot, technical support, and customer service.
| Services Desk Technician | Network Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $42,123 | $48,622 |
| Hourly rate | $20.25 | $23.38 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 145,853 | 120,245 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Service Desk Technicians are technicians who specialize in providing support to clients. They are usually in fields related to information technology, and they provide technical support to the employees of the organization. They usually help clients in installing, updating, repairing, or maintaining technical components. They are technology-savvy and should be able to communicate well. Most of the time, Service Desk Technicians are contacted through phone calls and thus should be able to guide callers over the phone. They are also expected to be patient and to be customer service-oriented.
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.
Services desk technicians and network support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Services Desk Technician | Network Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $42,123 | $48,622 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $55,000 | Between $38,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Troy, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Forum Energy Technologies | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a services desk technician and a network support technician in terms of educational background:
| Services Desk Technician | Network Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Information Technology | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between services desk technicians' and network support technicians' demographics:
| Services Desk Technician | Network Support Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.0% Female, 21.0% | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 10.9% White, 55.8% 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% |