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The differences between user support analysts and desktop support analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a user support analyst and a desktop support analyst. Additionally, a user support analyst has an average salary of $79,842, which is higher than the $48,674 average annual salary of a desktop support analyst.
The top three skills for a user support analyst include user experience, end user support and technical support. The most important skills for a desktop support analyst are desktop support, customer service, and computer system.
| User Support Analyst | Desktop Support Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $79,842 | $48,674 |
| Hourly rate | $38.39 | $23.40 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 116,372 | 99,621 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
User support analysts are computer professionals who provide support to users by investigating and resolving their computer software and hardware problems. By answering telephone calls and applying their knowledge of computer software and hardware, these analysts are required to talk and answer questions from users to learn the source of error. They must discuss with programmers about software errors as well as call the software and hardware vendors to request service regarding defective products. User support analysts must also revise training manuals and should develop training materials such as exercises and visual displays.
A desktop support analyst's role is to develop strategies and systems to improve and coordinate desktop support efforts. Their responsibilities revolve around testing and modifying existing networks and systems, providing corrective measures on issues and concerns, performing regular inspections, troubleshooting, and maintaining inventories on software, hardware, and other applications. Furthermore, as a desktop support analyst, it is essential to respond to calls and correspondence from clients, all while adhering to the policies and regulations of the company.
User support analysts and desktop support analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| User Support Analyst | Desktop Support Analyst | |
| Average salary | $79,842 | $48,674 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $125,000 | Between $36,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Cambridge Associates | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a user support analyst and a desktop support analyst in terms of educational background:
| User Support Analyst | Desktop Support Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between user support analysts' and desktop support analysts' demographics:
| User Support Analyst | Desktop Support Analyst | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.1% Female, 30.9% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 13.9% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 12.3% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |