Computer User Support Specialists: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Job description

Computer User Support Specialists provide technical assistance to computer users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, or 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.

• Answer user inquiries regarding computer software or hardware operation to resolve problems.
• Oversee the daily performance of computer systems.
• Read technical manuals, confer with users, or conduct computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems or to provide technical assistance and support.
• Set up equipment for employee use, performing or ensuring proper installation of cables, operating systems, or appropriate software.

Salary

Computer Support Specialists with little to no experience tend to make between $31220 and $39310 while the more experienced ones can earn over $65640 per year.

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Computer User Support Specialist is to move to a higher paying state like DC. Right now, the highest paying states for Computer Support Specialists are DC, CA, NJ, MA and WA.

However, a higher pay at DC doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at DC might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Computer User Support Specialist is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.

Requirements

We asked other Computer Support Specialists what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Bachelor’s Degree followed by a High School Diploma.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Computer User Support Specialist.

What is the job like

66% of Computer Support Specialists said they were satisfied with their job and 45% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.

Harriet Chan

CoCoFinder

Working as an IT Technician, several aspects of my job are exactly how pop culture has come to describe it. However, there are also many things that you do not find out until you work in the industry. A typical day starts off earlier than most people as I need to make sure all the … Read More

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David Neil

Guardian Computer, an IT services and support company based in New Orleans, LA

Working within the IT field, especially in B2B IT support, necessitates a degree of professional flexibility. Professionals like myself tend to immerse ourselves cross-departmentally. On any given day, I may be required to wear the hat of a backup solutions engineer, customer service liaison, help desk support specialist, or problem-solving coordinator. My primary responsibility is … Read More

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Is this right for me

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

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