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The differences between user support analysts 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 user support analyst and a help desk specialist. Additionally, a user support analyst has an average salary of $79,842, which is higher than the $51,065 average annual salary of a help desk specialist.
The top three skills for a user support analyst include user experience, end user support and technical support. The most important skills for a help desk specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| User Support Analyst | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $79,842 | $51,065 |
| Hourly rate | $38.39 | $24.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 116,372 | 75,004 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| 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.
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.
User support analysts and help desk specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| User Support Analyst | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average salary | $79,842 | $51,065 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $125,000 | Between $35,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Schulte Roth & Zabel | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a user support analyst and a help desk specialist in terms of educational background:
| User Support Analyst | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between user support analysts' and help desk specialists' demographics:
| User Support Analyst | Help Desk Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.1% Female, 30.9% | Male, 79.4% Female, 20.6% |
| 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, 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% |