Computer user support specialists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,980 | $19.70 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $61,860 | $29.74 |
| Mean (average) | $67,330 | $32.37 |
| 90th percentile | $100,540 | $48.34 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Computer user support specialists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $49,630 | $35,320 | $75,790 | 7,360 | 0.75 |
| Alaska | $63,110 | $45,010 | $85,330 | 950 | 0.63 |
| Arizona | $61,410 | $43,750 | $94,640 | 18,780 | 1.26 |
| Arkansas | $46,360 | $34,950 | $74,680 | 4,390 | 0.73 |
| California | $79,570 | $52,270 | $122,750 | 74,490 | 0.89 |
| Colorado | $71,900 | $48,590 | $116,850 | 16,740 | 1.26 |
| Connecticut | $70,210 | $46,180 | $101,540 | 9,300 | 1.19 |
| Delaware | $62,160 | $40,940 | $96,330 | 1,890 | 0.85 |
| District of Columbia | $80,950 | $59,980 | $120,840 | 3,140 | 0.97 |
| Florida | $58,740 | $38,750 | $97,560 | 51,220 | 1.12 |
| Georgia | $60,440 | $37,750 | $98,750 | 25,980 | 1.15 |
| Guam | $37,460 | $25,090 | $59,430 | 220 | 0.73 |
| Hawaii | $56,760 | $38,610 | $86,990 | 2,440 | 0.84 |
| Idaho | $59,170 | $41,380 | $88,020 | 3,650 | 0.92 |
| Illinois | $59,860 | $40,440 | $96,040 | 26,060 | 0.93 |
| Indiana | $56,510 | $39,220 | $83,900 | 13,540 | 0.92 |
| Iowa | $58,810 | $37,740 | $85,680 | 6,140 | 0.85 |
| Kansas | $56,150 | $38,460 | $76,590 | 6,780 | 1.02 |
| Kentucky | $57,850 | $37,000 | $89,970 | 9,460 | 1.03 |
| Louisiana | $52,440 | $36,510 | $90,610 | 4,780 | 0.54 |
| Maine | $60,890 | $47,360 | $80,240 | 2,810 | 0.95 |
| Maryland | $64,750 | $38,760 | $106,150 | 12,200 | 0.96 |
| Massachusetts | $75,070 | $48,740 | $104,950 | 17,570 | 1.05 |
| Michigan | $56,240 | $38,150 | $84,940 | 22,090 | 1.09 |
| Minnesota | $63,630 | $47,840 | $95,220 | 15,320 | 1.13 |
| Mississippi | $52,230 | $35,220 | $82,490 | 3,830 | 0.71 |
| Missouri | $59,770 | $39,920 | $93,090 | 13,510 | 1 |
| Montana | $58,460 | $41,530 | $79,000 | 1,640 | 0.69 |
| Nebraska | $60,830 | $40,910 | $78,150 | 6,380 | 1.35 |
| Nevada | $57,870 | $40,150 | $91,150 | 6,560 | 0.92 |
| New Hampshire | $60,660 | $41,600 | $94,790 | 3,910 | 1.24 |
| New Jersey | $64,470 | $41,830 | $105,380 | 18,200 | 0.92 |
| New Mexico | $53,280 | $37,900 | $77,420 | 3,290 | 0.82 |
| New York | $72,560 | $46,620 | $109,340 | 39,100 | 0.88 |
| North Carolina | $60,120 | $38,270 | $97,210 | 23,100 | 1.01 |
| North Dakota | $61,310 | $45,310 | $92,430 | 1,400 | 0.71 |
| Ohio | $59,720 | $38,730 | $89,700 | 22,370 | 0.87 |
| Oklahoma | $52,040 | $35,410 | $83,530 | 9,600 | 1.22 |
| Oregon | $62,840 | $47,930 | $94,310 | 8,850 | 0.98 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,670 | $38,280 | $84,790 | 30,560 | 1.09 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,250 | $23,960 | $60,320 | 5,760 | 1.33 |
| Rhode Island | $62,510 | $47,340 | $94,040 | 1,780 | 0.77 |
| South Carolina | $52,080 | $35,490 | $85,760 | 9,880 | 0.93 |
| South Dakota | $48,260 | $37,720 | $64,550 | 1,240 | 0.59 |
| Tennessee | $55,990 | $38,500 | $80,780 | 11,920 | 0.79 |
| Texas | $59,490 | $38,690 | $90,140 | 72,030 | 1.11 |
| Utah | $61,110 | $43,010 | $95,420 | 11,120 | 1.39 |
| Vermont | $63,030 | $49,020 | $95,680 | 1,630 | 1.16 |
| Virgin Islands | $50,430 | $36,460 | $73,290 | 90 | 0.61 |
| Virginia | $65,040 | $44,990 | $101,560 | 20,910 | 1.1 |
| Washington | $75,220 | $48,710 | $128,470 | 21,860 | 1.33 |
| West Virginia | $55,350 | $38,180 | $87,430 | 2,250 | 0.69 |
| Wisconsin | $58,810 | $43,260 | $82,100 | 12,400 | 0.91 |
| Wyoming | $65,100 | $39,640 | $89,440 | 790 | 0.61 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for computer user support specialists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 39,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 2.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for computer user support specialists
- Typical entry education
- Some college, no degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Agricultural Business Technology/Technician CIP 01.0106
- Computer Support Specialist CIP 11.1006
- Medical Office Computer Specialist/Assistant CIP 51.0709
Licenses and certifications
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Cisco Certified Network Associate
Cisco
CompTIA A+
CompTIA
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft
Requirements for regulated professions are set by each state. Always confirm with the state regulator.
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Apple iOS (in demand)
- Apple macOS (in demand)
- Linux (in demand)
- Microsoft Active Directory (in demand)
- Microsoft Azure software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Windows (in demand)
- ServiceNow (in demand)
- Structured query language SQL (in demand)
- Firewall software (in demand)
- AJAX (hot technology)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Instructing, Operations Monitoring.
Common job titles: Computer Support Specialist, Computer Tech (Computer Technician), Desktop Support Technician (Desktop Support Tech), Help Desk Analyst, Help Desk Tech (Help Desk Technician), IS Tech (Information Systems Technician), IT Specialist (Information Technology Specialist), IT Support Specialist (Information Technology Support Specialist), IT Tech (Information Technology Technician), Technical Support Specialist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do computer user support specialists make?
The national median annual wage for computer user support specialists was $61,860 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $40,980 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $100,540. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do computer user support specialists need?
BLS lists some college, no degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is computer user support specialists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of computer user support specialists to change -3.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 39,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay computer user support specialists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($80,950), California ($79,570), Washington ($75,220). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.