Computer and Mathematical · Holland code CRI
Computer User Support Specialists
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.
Also called: Computer Support Specialist, Computer Tech (Computer Technician), IS Tech (Information Systems Technician), IT Specialist (Information Technology Specialist), Desktop Support Technician (Desktop Support Tech), Help Desk Analyst, Help Desk Tech (Help Desk Technician), IT Support Specialist (Information Technology Support Specialist).
O*NET 15-1232.00
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $61,860
- Middle half earn $49,000 to $79,040. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Most common education
- Bachelor's Degree
- 47% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 3 of 5
- Medium preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- 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.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0 / 5
- Active Listening4.0 / 5
- Speaking4.0 / 5
- Critical Thinking3.8 / 5
- Writing3.5 / 5
- Active Learning3.1 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Computers and Electronics4.9 / 5
- Customer and Personal Service4.1 / 5
- Telecommunications3.9 / 5
- English Language3.8 / 5
- Education and Training3.7 / 5
- Mechanical3.7 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic52
- Investigative46
- Artistic0
- Social39
- Enterprising23
- Conventional84
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- computer hardware engineer · DE Ingenieur Computer-Hardware/Ingenieurin Computer-Hardware · FR ingénieur en matériel informatique/ingénieure en matériel informatique
- ICT system administrator · DE IT-Systemadministrator/IT-Systemadministratorin · FR administrateur de systèmes informatiques/administratrice de systèmes informatiques
- ICT network administrator · DE IT-Netzwerk-Administrator/IT-Netzwerk-Administratorin · FR administrateur de réseau informatique/administratrice de réseau informatique
- computer hardware engineering technician · DE Computer-Hardwaretechniker/Computer-Hardwaretechnikerin · FR technicien en conception électronique/technicienne en conception électronique
- ICT help desk agent · DE IT-Helpdesk-Manager/IT-Helpdesk-Managerin · FR agent de service d’assistance informatique/agente de service d’assistance informatique
- ICT help desk manager · DE IKT-Helpdesk-Manager/IKT-Helpdesk-Managerin · FR responsable du service d’assistance informatique
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- IT user support technicians (3132)135,000 employed
- Computer system and equipment installers and servicers (5244)41,000 employed
- Security system installers and repairers (5245)17,800 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Technicians and associate professionals”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €50,992 |
| Austria | €46,986 |
| Germany | €44,473 |
| Netherlands | €42,448 |
| Ireland | €41,613 |
| Sweden | €41,155 |
| Italy | €34,882 |
| France | €34,816 |
| Spain | €29,757 |
| Portugal | €18,080 |
| Poland | €12,108 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
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