Computer Support Specialists

Career Overview

Computer support specialists provide help and advice to computer users and organizations. These specialists either support computer networks or they provide technical assistance directly to computer users.

Education

Because of the wide range of skills used in different computer support jobs, there are many paths into the occupation. A bachelor’s degree is required for some applicants applying to computer support specialist positions, but an associate’s degree or postsecondary classes may be enough for others.

Future Outlook

Employment of computer support specialists is projected to grow 8 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. More support services will be needed as organizations upgrade their computer equipment and software.

Work Environment

Most computer support specialists have full-time work schedules; however, many do not work typical 9-to-5 jobs. Because computer support is important for businesses, support services may need to be available 24 hours a day. As a result, many support specialists must work nights or weekends.

Recommended High School Courses

Business
Communication
Technology - as much as possible!

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Provide technical support for software maintenance or use.
Monitor computer system performance to ensure proper operation.
Read documents to gather technical information.
Collaborate with others to resolve information technology issues.
Resolve computer software problems.
Install computer hardware.
Teach others to use computer equipment or hardware.
Train others in computer interface or software use.
Test software performance.
Modify software programs to improve performance.
Test computer hardware performance.
Document operational activities.
Install computer software.
Maintain computer hardware.
Evaluate utility of software or hardware technologies.
Provide recommendations to others about computer hardware.
Recommend changes to improve computer or information systems.
Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
Conduct research to gain information about products or processes.
Update knowledge about emerging industry or technology trends.
Participate in staffing decisions.
Supervise information technology personnel.

Schools

Alvernia University

Angelo State University

Appalachian State Univers...

Arcadia University

Arizona State University

Arkansas Tech University

Ashworth College- Norcros...

Assumption College

Atlanta Technical College

Atlantic Technical Colleg...

Auburn University

Augustana University

Austin College

Baker College Online

Bard College

Barnard College

Baylor University

Bellevue University

Belmont University

Beloit College

Bemidji State University

Bennington College

Bentley University

Berea College

Bethel University

Bethel University (indian...

Biola University

Birmingham Southern Colle...

Bismarck State College

Bluefield State College-...

Bob Jones University

Boise State University

Boston College

Boston University

Bowdoin College

Bowling Green State Unive...

Bradley University

Brandeis University

Brescia University

Cal Poly Pomona

Carleton College

Central New Mexico Commun...

Colgate University

College Of Business And T...

Francis Tuttle Technology...

Gateway Community College...

Georgetown University

Georgia Piedmont Technica...

Hampden-sydney College

Harvey Mudd College

Hobart And William Smith...

Iḷisaġvik College

Iowa Central Community Co...

Jefferson State Community...

Johns Hopkins University

Lanier Technical College-...

Matanuska-susitna College

Miami Dade College- Wolfs...

Middlebury College

Miller-motte College- Onl...

Miller-motte College- Wil...

Miller-motte Technical Co...

Muhlenberg College

New York University

Northeastern University

Northwest Iowa Community...

Northwestern University-...

Pennsylvania State Univer...

Pomona College

Red Rocks Community Colle...

Rensselaer Polytechnic In...

Roane State Community Col...

San Antonio College

Suny Columbia-greene Comm...

Suny Finger Lakes Communi...

Suny Plattsburgh

Suny Rockland Community C...

Suny Sullivan County Comm...

Suny Tompkins Cortland Co...

Thaddeus Stevens College...

Thomas Nelson Community C...

Tufts University

University Of California-...

University Of Chicago

University Of Illinois At...

University Of North Carol...

University Of Notre Dame

University Of Texas- Aust...

University Of Virginia

Ursinus College

Washington University- St...

Wellesley College

Westmoreland County Commu...

York Technical College

Academy Of Learning- B...

Academy Of Learning- H...

Academy Of Learning- R...

Algoma University- Sau...

Athabasca University

Bishop's University

Cdi College- Calgary S...

Cdi College- Edmonton...

Cdi College- Mississau...

Cdi College- North Yor...

Cdi College- Scarborou...

Cdi College- Surrey Ca...

Cdi College- Vancouver...

Cdi College- Winnipeg...

Herzing College- Montr...

Montreal College Of In...

Robertson College- Mai...

Seneca College- Newnha...

Vanier College

Western College

Potential Scholarships

5 Strong Scholarship

Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...

Curt Pozan Trades Scholar...

Approx Salary Expectation

Currency:

Low End:

$38,990.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$63,460.00 /yr

High End:

$106,420.00 /yr

Related Careers

Network and Systems Administrators

Computer Systems Analyst

Network and Systems Administrators

Software Engineer

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
WorkBC's Career Trek, http://www.careertrekbc.ca/.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.