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The differences between system technicians and desk 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 system technician and a desk support technician. Additionally, a system technician has an average salary of $43,410, which is higher than the $40,715 average annual salary of a desk support technician.
The top three skills for a system technician include customer service, hand tools and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a desk support technician are customer service, technical support, and troubleshoot.
| System Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $43,410 | $40,715 |
| Hourly rate | $20.87 | $19.57 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 137,121 | 130,485 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A system technician is an individual responsible for supporting users with issues related to the computer system. System technicians conduct appropriate diagnostics on computer issues and must be able to explain technical issues to clients or team members. They should carry out tests on the system so that they can generate error reports to identify and fix any computer system problems. System technicians also can write and maintain computer programs and work with computers and electronics, including circuit boards, computer hardware and software, and computer processors.
A desktop support technician is responsible for assisting end-users with their network issues, grant authorization requests, and create user accounts. Desktop support technicians maintain the safety and security of networks, preventing unauthorized access and illegal dissemination of database information. They also handle the software configurations and upgrading the network infrastructure to avoid system downtimes and operational delays. A desktop support technician must have excellent communication and technical skills to monitor systems performance and enhance network navigation.
System technicians and desk support technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| System Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average salary | $43,410 | $40,715 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $67,000 | Between $26,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | BNY Mellon |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a system technician and a desk support technician in terms of educational background:
| System Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between system technicians' and desk support technicians' demographics:
| System Technician | Desk Support Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% | Male, 82.6% Female, 17.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 11.7% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |