State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Computer User Support Specialist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Computer User Support Specialists is $61,860 a year ($29.74/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 3.7% through 2034, with about 40,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Some college, no degree.
SOC 15-1232Computer and MathematicalLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $61,860
- Projected growth
- -3.7%
- Openings a year
- 40,800
- Typical education
- Some college
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: 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).
How much do Computer User Support Specialists make?
10th percentile$40,980
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$49,000
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$61,860
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$79,040
Upper quartile
90th percentile$100,540
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $61,860 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $29.74/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $67,330 |
| People employed | 717,190 |
Versus all US occupations
At $61,860, Computer User Support Specialists earn 21% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $10,880 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
Inside the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580, this is 47% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $100,540 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,980, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 45% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $80,950, and still leads at $73,657 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Computer User Support Specialists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $80,950 | $73,657 | 3,140 |
| California | $79,570 | $71,866 | 74,490 |
| Washington | $75,220 | $70,291 | 21,860 |
| Massachusetts | $75,070 | $70,983 | 17,570 |
| New York | $72,560 | $67,234 | 39,100 |
| Colorado | $71,900 | $69,771 | 16,740 |
| Connecticut | $70,210 | $67,764 | 9,300 |
| Wyoming | $65,100 | $70,233 | 790 |
| Virginia | $65,040 | $64,330 | 20,910 |
| Maryland | $64,750 | $61,691 | 12,200 |
Is Computer User Support Specialist a growing career?
Computer User Support Specialists-3.7%
All US occupations3.1%
-3.7% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Declining
BLS projects employment of Computer User Support Specialists to change -3.7% over 2024–2034, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.1%. That is 27,000 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 40,800 openings are projected each year, 5.6% of the 729,500 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of computer support specialists is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.
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.
Projected employment of computer support specialists varies by occupation. (See table.)
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.
How to become a Computer User Support Specialist
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.
| Typical entry-level education | Some college, no degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as computer user support specialists.
- Bachelor's Degree47.3%
- Post-Secondary Certificate32.3%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)13.7%
- First Professional Degree4.1%
- Some College Courses1.9%
What does a Computer User Support Specialist do?
Provide technical assistance to computer users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone, or electronically. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems.
Computer support specialists assist computer users and organizations. These specialists either maintain computer networks or provide technical help directly to computer users.
Day-to-day tasks
- Read technical manuals, confer with users, or conduct computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems or to provide technical assistance and support.
- Confer with staff, users, and management to establish requirements for new systems or modifications.
- Develop training materials and procedures, or train users in the proper use of hardware or software.
- Set up equipment for employee use, performing or ensuring proper installation of cables, operating systems, or appropriate software.
- 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.
- Refer major hardware or software problems or defective products to vendors or technicians for service.
- Maintain records of daily data communication transactions, problems and remedial actions taken, or installation activities.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where computer user support specialists work
| Computer systems design and related services | 19% |
|---|---|
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 13% |
| Telecommunications | 8% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 8% |
| Finance and insurance | 6% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Writing3.5/5
- Active Learning3.1/5
- Learning Strategies3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
Transferable skills
- Complex Problem Solving3.6/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
- Instructing3.0/5
- Operations Monitoring3.0/5
- Troubleshooting3.0/5
- Systems Analysis3.0/5
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Application server software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software · in demand
- Cloud-based management software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Configuration management software · in demand
- Content workflow software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base reporting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Computer User Support Specialist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary4.1
Investigativeprimary3.8
Artistic1.0
Social3.3
Enterprising2.4
Conventionalprimary6.0
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Computer User Support Specialist: frequently asked questions
How much do Computer User Support Specialists make?
Computer User Support Specialists earn a median of $61,860 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 21% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $29.74/hr. The middle half earn between $49,000 and $79,040. The top 10% earn $100,540 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Computer User Support Specialist?
Not necessarily. BLS lists "some college, no degree" as the typical entry-level education for Computer User Support Specialists. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 47.3% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Computer User Support Specialist a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 3.7% over 2024–2034, a loss of 27,000 jobs (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 40,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Computer User Support Specialist do?
Computer support specialists assist computer users and organizations. A core O*NET task: read technical manuals, confer with users, or conduct computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems or to provide technical assistance and support. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Computer User Support Specialists the most?
The highest state medians for Computer User Support Specialists are District of Columbia ($80,950), California ($79,570), Washington ($75,220) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Computer User Support Specialist?
O*NET scores Computer User Support Specialists highest on the Conventional, Realistic and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.