Computer User Support Specialists
Information TechnologyO*NET 15-1232.00United States
Provide technical assistance to computer users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone, or electronically.
- Median annual earnings
- $61,823
- Projected change
- +1.4%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 763.29K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
47.3% of the workforce
Growing to 774.13K by 2035
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The work
What computer user support specialists do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Oversee the daily performance of computer systems.
- Set up equipment for employee use, performing or ensuring proper installation of cables, operating systems, or appropriate software.
- Read technical manuals, confer with users, or conduct computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems or to provide technical assistance and support.
- Answer user inquiries regarding computer software or hardware operation to resolve problems.
- Install and perform minor repairs to hardware, software, or peripheral equipment, following design or installation specifications.
- Confer with staff, users, and management to establish requirements for new systems or modifications.
- Enter commands and observe system functioning to verify correct operations and detect errors.
- Maintain records of daily data communication transactions, problems and remedial actions taken, or installation activities.
- Refer major hardware or software problems or defective products to vendors or technicians for service.
- Prepare evaluations of software or hardware, and recommend improvements or upgrades.
- Develop training materials and procedures, or train users in the proper use of hardware or software.
- Inspect equipment and read order sheets to prepare for delivery to users.
- Read trade magazines and technical manuals, or attend conferences and seminars to maintain knowledge of hardware and software.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $40,420
- 25th percentile
- $48,591
- 50th percentile
- $61,823
- 75th percentile
- $79,909
- 90th percentile
- $104,333
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $61,823 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+1.4%average or slower
2025763,294 jobs
2035 projected774,134 jobs
10,840 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Bachelor's degree
- 47.3%
- Certificate
- 32.3%
- Associate degree
- 13.7%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 4.4%
- Some college
- 1.9%
- High school diploma or less
- 0.3%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01IT Support Specialists4,610 postings
- 02IT Specialists4,375 postings
- 03Desktop Support Technicians4,037 postings
- 04Technical Support Specialists3,755 postings
- 05Help Desk Technicians3,547 postings
- 06IT Support Technicians3,091 postings
- 07Technical Support Engineers2,758 postings
- 08Help Desk Analysts2,337 postings
- 09Service Desk Analysts2,212 postings
- 10Help Desk Specialists1,964 postings
- 11IT Technicians1,796 postings
- 12Geek Squad Managers1,741 postings
- 13Service Desk Technicians1,737 postings
- 14Support Engineers1,723 postings
- 15Desktop Support Specialists1,408 postings
- 16Technical Support Analysts1,376 postings
- 17IT Help Desk Technicians1,296 postings
- 18Desktop Support Managers1,262 postings
- 19Desktop Support Analysts1,124 postings
- 20Help Desk Support Technicians1,035 postings
Top employers
- 01TEKsystems3,838 postings
- 02Robert Half2,313 postings
- 03Best Buy1,953 postings
- 04GovCIO1,516 postings
- 05Insight Global1,439 postings
- 06Cai1,257 postings
- 07Accenture1,245 postings
- 08Amazon660 postings
- 09Cayuse Holdings547 postings
- 10Canon517 postings
- 11ManpowerGroup489 postings
- 12Fujifilm456 postings
- 13Allegis Group432 postings
- 14Apple409 postings
- 15Prime Therapeutics382 postings
- 16Leidos369 postings
- 17General Dynamics364 postings
- 18Everforth Apex354 postings
- 19Beacon Hill Staffing Group330 postings
- 20Randstad329 postings
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