Desktop Support Specialist Salary
Earnings for Desktop Support Specialists in the United States come in at around $48K per year on average. Cash earnings for Desktop Support Specialists — including $6K in bonuses and $10K in profit sharing proceeds near the top of the pay scale — generally stretch from $34K to $65K depending on individual performance. Geographic location and tenure each impact pay for this group, with the former having the largest influence. Job satisfaction for Desktop Support Specialists is high. A fair number report receiving medical coverage from their employers and a strong majority collect dental insurance. This report is based on responses to the PayScale salary survey.
Job Description for Desktop Support Specialist
Desktop support specialists are in charge of providing excellent end user experience, which includes resolving potential or actual technical issues. One of their main duties is troubleshooting different software packages, hardware devices, and other peripherals. Additionally, desktop support specialists configure computer systems according to company policies. They must follow strict privacy regulations when it comes to handling sensitive data inside company drives. They help diagnose problems and follow up to ensure their resolution. Additional tasks include performing regular maintenance and updating operating systems while minimizing downtime and increasing productivity. They also help with data back-up duties in case of data corruption. These professionals generally work in an office environment with other specialists and use a personal computer as one of their main tools to report their progress and research possible solutions.
Read More...Desktop Support Specialist Tasks
- Create and maintain a variety of computer images for Windows and Mac OS systems.
- Evaluate new product versions and recommend upgrade schedules.
- Work with vendors to troubleshoot and resolve issues.
- Deliver support for reported problems with desktop computers, laptops, peripherals and mobile devices.
- Install and configure desktop computer hardware, software and peripherals using standard procedures.
Desktop Support Specialist Pay By Employer
Common Career Paths for Desktop Support Specialist
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Though not the most common occurrence, Desktop Support Specialists sometimes become Information Technology Managers, where the average income is $78K per year. Career advancement for the typical Desktop Support Specialist often leads to becoming a Systems Administrator or a Desktop Support Engineer; median salaries in these positions are $9K higher and $6K higher, respectively.
Desktop Support Specialist Job Listings
Popular Skills for Desktop Support Specialist
Survey respondents exploit a significant toolbox of skills in their work. Most notably, facility with System Administration, Desktop Specialist, and Windows PowerShell are correlated to pay that is significantly above average, leading to increases of 29 percent, 20 percent, and 18 percent, respectively. Skills that seem to negatively impact pay include Help Desk / Desktop Support and Troubleshooting. The majority of those who know Help Desk / Desktop Support also know Microsoft Active Directory and Troubleshooting. Most people familiar with Computer Hardware Technician also know Troubleshooting and Microsoft Active Directory.
Pay by Experience Level for Desktop Support Specialist
Pay by Experience for a Desktop Support Specialist has a positive trend. An entry-level Desktop Support Specialist with less than 5 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $42,000 based on 372 salaries provided by anonymous users. Average total compensation includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay. A Desktop Support Specialist with mid-career experience which includes employees with 5 to 10 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $49,000 based on 259 salaries. An experienced Desktop Support Specialist which includes employees with 10 to 20 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $53,000 based on 233 salaries. A Desktop Support Specialist with late-career experience which includes employees with greater than 20 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $53,000 based on 48 salaries.
Pay Difference by Location
Home to some of the best pay for Desktop Support Specialists, Arlington offers exceptional salaries, 37 percent above the national average. Desktop Support Specialists will also find cushy salaries in San Francisco (+32 percent), Atlanta (+29 percent), Seattle (+13 percent), and Denver (+7 percent). With compensation 14 percent below the national average, Dallas is not known for hefty paychecks and actually represents the lowest-paying market. A couple other locations with smaller-than-average paychecks include Austin (12 percent lower) and Charlotte (9 percent lower).
Desktop Support Specialist Reviews
Related Job Salaries
Key Stats for Desktop Support Specialist
Gender
Female
10 % |
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Male
90 % |
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Job Satisfaction
Highly satisfied |
Rated 4 out of 5 based on 231 votes. |
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