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Software support representative vs desktop support technician

The differences between software support representatives and desktop 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 software support representative and a desktop support technician. Additionally, a software support representative has an average salary of $74,855, which is higher than the $41,792 average annual salary of a desktop support technician.

The top three skills for a software support representative include technical support, software support and customer problems. The most important skills for a desktop support technician are customer service, desktop support, and troubleshoot.

Software support representative vs desktop support technician overview

Software Support RepresentativeDesktop Support Technician
Yearly salary$74,855$41,792
Hourly rate$35.99$20.09
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs85,572108,944
Job satisfaction-1
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Software support representative vs desktop support technician salary

Software support representatives and desktop support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Software Support RepresentativeDesktop Support Technician
Average salary$74,855$41,792
Salary rangeBetween $50,000 And $110,000Between $32,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City-Philadelphia, PA
Highest paying state-Pennsylvania
Best paying company-NTT Data International L.L.C.
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between software support representative and desktop support technician education

There are a few differences between a software support representative and a desktop support technician in terms of educational background:

Software Support RepresentativeDesktop Support Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorBusinessComputer Information Systems
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Software support representative vs desktop support technician demographics

Here are the differences between software support representatives' and desktop support technicians' demographics:

Software Support RepresentativeDesktop Support Technician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 61.0% Female, 39.0%Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 11.7% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between software support representative and desktop support technician duties and responsibilities

Software support representative example responsibilities.

  • Install and configure multiple UNIX servers and databases using native utilities; configure internal network, configure and manage SSL certificates.
  • Operate collaboration, CRM, and forecasting software.
  • Experience utilizing customer ticketing system (Salesforce).
  • Utilize multiple hardware and software tools to troubleshoot software, printing, accounting and database issues.
  • Create PowerPoint presentations for training purposes.
  • Collaborate with LAN technicians/network administrators to ensure efficient operation of company's desktop software/network environment.
  • Show more

Desktop support technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and troubleshoot network connectivity with TCP/IP
  • Coordinate and manage a large-scale VOIP phone system conversion project for high-profile corporate customer.
  • Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.
  • Deploy WINTERMS on CITRIX platform.
  • Blackberry and android setup and activation.
  • Support a legacy system which requires a client certificate and a specific Java version and configuration.
  • Show more

Software support representative vs desktop support technician skills

Common software support representative skills
  • Technical Support, 15%
  • Software Support, 14%
  • Customer Problems, 8%
  • Troubleshoot, 6%
  • Customer Support, 5%
  • CRM, 5%
Common desktop support technician skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Desktop Support, 10%
  • Troubleshoot, 8%
  • Technical Support, 6%
  • Remote Desktop, 3%
  • Laptop Computers, 3%

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