Computer Support Specialists

Career, Salary and Education Information

What They Do: Computer support specialists provide help and advice to computer users and organizations.

Work Environment: Most computer support specialists have full-time work schedules; however, many do not work typical 9-to-5 jobs. Because computer support is important for businesses, support services may need to be available 24 hours a day. As a result, many support specialists must work nights or weekends.

How to Become One: Because of the wide range of skills used in different computer support jobs, there are many paths into the occupation. A bachelor’s degree is required for some computer support specialist positions, but an associate’s degree or postsecondary classes may be enough for others.

Salary: The median annual wage for computer network support specialists is $62,760. The median annual wage for computer user support specialists is $49,770.

Job Outlook: Employment of computer support specialists is projected to grow 6 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of computer support specialists with similar occupations.

Following is everything you need to know about a career as a computer support specialist with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:

Top 3 Computer Support Specialist Jobs

Orders Team Support Specialist - Medcure, Inc. - Portland, OR
Job Summary : The Orders Team Support Specialist works with Customers, Business Development ... Sitting for long periods of time - working at computer and telephone SHIFT MON-FRI 7:AM-3:30PM ...
Support Specialist, Turning Point (Tuesday-Saturday, 3pm-11:30pm) - The People Concern - Los Angeles, CA
Support Specialist , Turning Point (Tuesday-Saturday, 3pm-11:30pm) 1447 16th St, Santa Monica, CA ... others - Computer literate; able to use computerized database system for information management ...
Sr. IT Support Specialist - Onsite - Cognizant Technology Solutions - San Francisco, CA
We are seeking a skilled and proactive Mid-Level IT Suppor t Specialist with a strong background in ... Bachelor's degree in information technology, Computer Science, or equivalent experience. #LI-EF1 ...

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What Computer Support Specialists Do[About this section] [To Top]

Computer support specialists provide help and advice to computer users and organizations. These specialists either support computer networks or they provide technical assistance directly to computer users.

Duties of Computer Support Specialists

Computer network support specialists typically do the following:

Test and evaluate existing network systems
Perform regular maintenance to ensure that networks operate correctly
Troubleshoot local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and Internet systems

Computer network support specialists, also called technical support specialists, analyze, troubleshoot, and evaluate computer network problems. They play an important role in the routine maintenance of their organization's networks, such as performing file backups on the network. Maintenance can be performed daily, weekly, or monthly and is important to an organization's disaster recovery efforts. Solving an information technology (IT) problem promptly is important because organizations depend on their network systems. Network support specialists may assist computer users through phone, email, or in-person visits. They often work under network and computer systems administrators, who handle more complex tasks.

Computer user support specialists typically do the following:

Pay attention to customers' descriptions of their computer problems
Ask customers questions to properly diagnose the problem
Walk customers through the recommended problem-solving steps
Set up or repair computer equipment and related devices
Train users to work with new computer hardware or software, such as printers, word-processing software, and email
Provide other team members and managers in the organization with information about what gives customers the most trouble and about other concerns customers have

Computer user support specialists, also called help-desk technicians, usually provide technical help to non-IT computer users. They respond to phone and email requests for help. They can usually help users remotely, but they also may make site visits so that they can solve a problem in person.

Help-desk technicians may solve a range of problems that vary with the industry and the particular firm. Some technicians work for large software companies or for support service firms and must give instructions to business customers on how to use business-specific programs such as an electronic health records program used in hospitals or physicians' offices. Sometimes they work with other technicians to resolve problems.

Other help-desk technicians work in call centers, answering simpler questions from nonbusiness customers. They may walk customers through basic steps in reestablishing an Internet connection or troubleshooting household IT products such as Wi-Fi routers.

Work Environment for Computer Support Specialists[About this section] [To Top]

Computer network support specialists hold about 185,500 jobs. The largest employers of computer network support specialists are as follows:

Computer systems design and related services	19%
Telecommunications	13%
Finance and insurance	6%
Management of companies and enterprises	5%
Data processing, hosting, and related services	3%

Computer user support specialists hold about 690,200 jobs. The largest employers of computer user support specialists are as follows:

Computer systems design and related services	22%
Educational services; state, local, and private	11%
Temporary help services	5%
Management of companies and enterprises	5%
Software publishers	4%

Faster computer networks are making it possible for some support specialists, particularly help-desk technicians, to telework, or work from their home. However, a few specialized help-desk technicians may have to travel to a client's location to solve a problem.

Computer Support Specialist Work Schedules

Most computer support specialists have full-time work schedules; however, many do not work typical 9-to-5 jobs. Because computer support is important for businesses, support services may need to be available 24 hours a day. As a result, many support specialists must work nights or weekends.

How to Become a Computer Support Specialist[About this section] [To Top]

Get the education you need: Find schools for Computer Support Specialists near you!

Because of the wide range of skills used in different computer support jobs, there are many paths into the occupation. A bachelor's degree is required for some applicants applying to computer support specialist positions, but an associate's degree or postsecondary classes may be enough for others.

Education for Computer Support Specialists

Education requirements for computer support specialists vary. Computer user support specialist jobs require some computer knowledge, but not necessarily a postsecondary degree. Applicants who have taken some computer-related classes may be qualified for these jobs. For computer network support specialists, many employers accept applicants with an associate's degree, although some prefer applicants to have a bachelor's degree.

Large software companies that provide support to business users who buy their products or services often require applicants to have a bachelor's degree. Positions that are more technical are likely to require a degree in a field such as computer science, engineering, or information science, but for others, the applicant's field of study is less important.

To keep up with changes in technology, many computer support specialists continue their education throughout their careers.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Computer Support Specialists

Certification programs are generally offered by vendors or from vendor-neutral certification providers. Certification validates the knowledge of and best practices required by computer support specialists. Companies may require their computer support specialists to hold certifications in the products the companies use.

Advancement for Computer Support Specialists

Many computer support specialists advance to other information technology positions, such as network and computer systems administrators and software developers. Some become managers in the computer support services department. Some organizations provide paths for support specialists to move into other parts of the organization, such as sales. For more information, see the profiles on network and computer systems administrators and software developers.

Important Qualities for Computer Support Specialists

Customer-service skills. Computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic. They often help people who are frustrated with the software or hardware they are trying to use.

Listening skills. Support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions to clarify the situation.

Problem-solving skills. Support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems, analyze them, and solve them.

Speaking skills. Support workers must describe the solutions to computer problems in a way that a nontechnical person can understand.

Writing skills. Strong writing skills are useful for preparing instructions and email responses for employees and customers, as well as for real-time web chat interactions.

Computer Support Specialist Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]

The median annual wage for computer network support specialists is $62,760. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,560, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $102,410.

The median annual wage for computer user support specialists is $49,770. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,220, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $91,060.

The median annual wages for computer network support specialists in the top industries in which they work are as follows:

Telecommunications	$76,910
Finance and insurance	$74,920
Management of companies and enterprises	$66,500
Data processing, hosting, and related services	$62,460
Computer systems design and related services	$61,390

The median annual wages for computer user support specialists in the top industries in which they work are as follows:

Software publishers	$59,830
Management of companies and enterprises	$58,430
Computer systems design and related services	$48,540
Educational services; state, local, and private	$48,530
Temporary help services	$46,680

Most computer support specialists work full time. Because computer support services may need to be available 24 hours a day, some specialists work nights or weekends.

Job Outlook for Computer Support Specialists[About this section] [To Top]

Employment of computer support specialists is projected to grow 6 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 75,000 openings for computer support specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

See all computer jobs.

Employment of Computer Support Specialists

Computer support specialists will be needed to provide technical help and training to users with new hardware or software. However, this demand may be offset somewhat as organizations continue to implement automated tools, such as chatbots, for troubleshooting. Some businesses, especially smaller ones with minimal information technology (IT) requirements, may find it more cost effective to contract with outside firms for these services rather than to hire computer support specialists directly.

Employment projections data for Computer Support Specialists, 2021-31
Occupational Title	Employment, 2021	Projected Employment, 2031	Change, 2021-31
Occupational Title	Employment, 2021	Projected Employment, 2031	Percent	Numeric
Computer support specialists	875,700	932,100	6	56,400
Computer network support specialists	185,500	199,200	7	13,800
Computer user support specialists	690,200	732,900	6	42,700

Careers Related to Computer Support Specialists[About this section] [To Top]

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Computer and information systems managers, often called information technology (IT) managers or IT project managers, plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization. They help determine the information technology goals of an organization and are responsible for implementing computer systems to meet those goals.

Computer Network Architects

Computer network architects design and build data communication networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and Intranets. These networks range from small connections between two offices to next-generation networking capabilities such as a cloud infrastructure that serves multiple customers.

Computer Programmers

Computer programmers write and test code that allows computer applications and software programs to function properly. They turn the program designs created by software developers and engineers into instructions that a computer can follow.

Computer Systems Analysts

Computer systems analysts, sometimes called systems architects, study an organization's current computer systems and procedures, and design solutions to help the organization operate more efficiently and effectively. They bring business and information technology (IT) together by understanding the needs and limitations of both.

Customer Service Representatives

Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and provide information about an organization's products and services.

Database Administrators

Database administrators (DBAs) use specialized software to store and organize data, such as financial information and customer shipping records. They make sure that data are available to users and secure from unauthorized access.

Information Security Analysts

Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. Their responsibilities are continually expanding as the number of cyberattacks increases.

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.

Web Developers

Web developers design and create websites. They are responsible for the look of the site. They are also responsible for the site's technical aspects, such as its performance and capacity, which are measures of a website's speed and how much traffic the site can handle. In addition, web developers may create content for the site.