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The differences between software support specialists and help desk specialists 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 specialist and a help desk specialist. Additionally, a software support specialist has an average salary of $62,663, which is higher than the $51,065 average annual salary of a help desk specialist.
The top three skills for a software support specialist include customer service, software support and database. The most important skills for a help desk specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| Software Support Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $62,663 | $51,065 |
| Hourly rate | $30.13 | $24.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 122,134 | 75,004 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
The software support specialist works on installing, repairing, maintaining, and troubleshooting software systems used by customers. The software support specialist provides expert services for customers to resolve issues and problems. A software support specialist must have expertise in the software handled and can effectively provide easy to follow instructions for clients and customers to follow. Customer software support is essential to service customers' needs, especially in digital products prone to bugs and performance issues.
The primary role of help desk specialists is to maintain relationships between the company and its customers. Their duties and responsibilities include responding to guests' queries, providing technical computer support, and maintaining computer systems' performance. Help desk specialists are also responsible for following up with customers to resolve issues and train computer users. There are several requirements to be qualified for this position, which include having relevant customer service experience, problem-solving and analytical skills, and the ability to prioritize vital tasks.
Software support specialists and help desk specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Support Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average salary | $62,663 | $51,065 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $90,000 | Between $35,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Amdocs | Schulte Roth & Zabel |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a software support specialist and a help desk specialist in terms of educational background:
| Software Support Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between software support specialists' and help desk specialists' demographics:
| Software Support Specialist | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% | Male, 79.4% Female, 20.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 11.6% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |