Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between user support analysts and systems support 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 systems support specialist. Additionally, a user support analyst has an average salary of $79,842, which is higher than the $61,744 average annual salary of a systems support 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 systems support specialist are customer service, troubleshoot, and technical support.
| User Support Analyst | Systems Support Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $79,842 | $61,744 |
| Hourly rate | $38.39 | $29.68 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 116,372 | 159,364 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| 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 systems support specialist is responsible for assisting end-users on system issues, including network configuration and improving network infrastructure. System support specialists implement network strategies alongside the whole technology team to boost the system's efficiency and optimal performance. They create resolution reports for reference and write recommendations to prevent system defects and inconsistencies. A systems support specialist also handles network installations and upgrades, requiring them to have excellent technical skills and knowledge of programming languages.
User support analysts and systems support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| User Support Analyst | Systems Support Specialist | |
| Average salary | $79,842 | $61,744 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $125,000 | Between $41,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Centreville, VA |
| Highest paying state | California | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Koch Industries | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a user support analyst and a systems support specialist in terms of educational background:
| User Support Analyst | Systems Support Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between user support analysts' and systems support specialists' demographics:
| User Support Analyst | Systems Support Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.1% Female, 30.9% | Male, 73.4% Female, 26.6% |
| 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, 11.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |