Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Using computers, software, digital systems, and technology to complete work and solve problems.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Understanding written information and communicating ideas clearly in writing.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Computer Support Specialist Communication skills are important for computer support specialists. Entry requirements vary for computer support specialists. Network support specialists typically need an associate’s degree, and user support specialists typically need to complete some college courses. However, candidates for either type of position may qualify with a high school diploma plus relevant information technology (IT) certifications.
Education
Education requirements for computer support specialists vary. Computer user support specialist jobs require some computer knowledge but not necessarily a college degree. Applicants who have taken courses in areas such as networking, server administration, and information security may qualify for these jobs. For computer network support specialists, employers may accept applicants who have an associate’s degree, although some prefer that applicants have a bachelor’s degree. Large software companies that provide support to business users who buy their products or services may 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 and information technology or engineering. For others, the applicant’s field of degree is less important. To keep up with changes in technology, computer support specialists may need to continue their education throughout their careers.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
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. Other types of certifications, may be a helpful starting point for workers seeking entry into the occupation. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop. Advancement Many computer support specialists advance to other information technology positions, such as information security analysts, 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.
Your Next Step
Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Overall employment of computer support specialists is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline. About 48,700 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. Employment Projected employment of computer support specialists varies by occupation. (See table.) Employment of computer user support specialists is projected to decline as organizations continue to implement automated tools, such as chatbots, for troubleshooting. This use of automation may free up some computer user support specialists to handle more complex cases and troubleshooting that require attention, but fewer are expected to be needed overall. Employment growth of computer network support specialists is expected to be constrained because some businesses, especially smaller organizations with minimal information technology (IT) requirements, may find it more cost effective to contract with outside firms for these services rather than to employ computer network support specialists. Some of these workers also may be replaced by computer network architects because of a computer industry shift towards workers with broader skillsets that include design skills. However, the importance of strong network and other IT infrastructure will support some demand for computer network support specialists. Computer Support Specialists Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Computer occupations 6% Total, all occupations 3% Computer network support specialists 1% Computer user support specialists -3% Computer support specialists -3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Computer Support Specialists Do
Computer support specialists assist computer users and organizations. These specialists either maintain computer networks or provide technical help directly to computer users.
Duties
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 analyze and troubleshoot computer network problems. They have an important role in the daily, weekly, or monthly maintenance of their organization’s networks. This maintenance may be routine or part of the organization’s disaster recovery efforts. Network support specialists also may assist computer users through phone, email, or in-person visits. They often work under the direction of network and computer systems administrators, who handle more complex tasks.
Computer user support specialists typically do the following:
- Analyze customers’ computer problem to diagnose it and determine the cause
- Document customers’ descriptions of their computer problems
- Guide customers through the recommended problem-solving steps
- Set up or repair computer equipment and related devices
- Install and train users on new hardware or software
- Inform team members and managers of major problems or of customers’ recurring concerns
Computer user support specialists, also called help-desk technicians, usually provide technical help to non-IT computer users. They respond to requests for help in a number of ways, such as in person or by phone, online chat, or email.
Help-desk technicians 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 instruct business customers in the use of business-specific programs, such as an electronic health records program used in hospitals or physicians’ offices.
Other help-desk technicians work in call centers and take customers through a problem step by step, such as to reestablish an Internet connection or to troubleshoot Wi-Fi routers or other household IT products.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Computer network support specialists held about 152,500 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of computer network support specialists were as follows:
| Computer systems design and related services | 20% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 11 |
| Telecommunications | 8 |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 8 |
| Finance and insurance | 6 |
Computer user support specialists held about 750,600 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of computer user support specialists were as follows:
| Computer systems design and related services | 21% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 12 |
| Information | 10 |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 7 |
| Finance and insurance | 6 |
Some computer support specialists are able to telework. Others must be onsite or may need to travel to clients’ locations.
Work Schedules
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.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. Computer support specialists must clearly convey information, both orally and in writing. They must describe solutions to computer problems in way that nontechnical users can understand. Customer-service skills. Computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic. They often help people who are frustrated trying to use software or hardware. Listening skills. Support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions for clarification. Problem-solving skills. Support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems and then analyze and solve them.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about computer support specialists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.