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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.
Communication skills. Computer support specialists must clearly convey information, both orally and in writing. They must describe solutions to computer problems in way that nontechnical users can understand.
Customer-service skills. Computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic. They often help people who are frustrated trying to use software or hardware.
Listening skills. Support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions for clarification.
Problem-solving skills. Support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems and then analyze and solve them.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
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90% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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90% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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89% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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87% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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85% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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84% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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84% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
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81% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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81% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. | |
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80% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
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80% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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78% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. | |
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77% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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77% | Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. | |
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71% | Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
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78% | Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services. | |
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72% | Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service. | |
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72% | Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
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72% | Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. | |
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70% | Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. | |
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67% | Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
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67% | Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. | |
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67% | Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
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75% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
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75% | Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |
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75% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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72% | Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. | |
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72% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |
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66% | Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. | |
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66% | 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 that there is a problem. | |
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66% | Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. | |
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66% | 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). | |
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66% | Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
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100% | Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job? | |
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97% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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96% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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90% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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89% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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85% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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85% | Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? | |
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85% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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81% | Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? | |
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80% | Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers? | |
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77% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? | |
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77% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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76% | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions? | |
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76% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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73% | Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting? | |
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66% | Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? | |
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78% | Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
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95% | Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. | |
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86% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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84% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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83% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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82% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
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77% | Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. | |
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73% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. | |
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70% | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. | |
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70% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
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68% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
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66% | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. | |
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65% | Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
Computer support specialists assist computer users and organizations. These specialists either maintain computer networks or provide technical help directly to computer users.
Computer network support specialists typically do the following:
Computer network support specialists analyze and troubleshoot computer network problems. They have an important role in the daily, weekly, or monthly maintenance of their organization’s networks. This maintenance may be routine or part of the organization’s disaster recovery efforts. Network support specialists also may assist computer users through phone, email, or in-person visits. They often work under the direction of network and computer systems administrators, who handle more complex tasks.
Computer user support specialists typically do the following:
Computer user support specialists, also called help-desk technicians, usually provide technical help to non-IT computer users. They respond to requests for help in a number of ways, such as in person or by phone, online chat, or email.
Help-desk technicians solve a range of problems that vary with the industry and the particular firm. Some technicians work for large software companies or for support service firms and instruct business customers in the use of business-specific programs, such as an electronic health records program used in hospitals or physicians’ offices.
Other help-desk technicians work in call centers and take customers through a problem step by step, such as to reestablish an Internet connection or to troubleshoot Wi-Fi routers or other household IT products.
Computer network support specialists held about 177,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of computer network support specialists were as follows:
| Computer systems design and related services | 19% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 12 |
| Telecommunications | 10 |
| Government | 7 |
| Finance and insurance | 6 |
Computer user support specialists held about 736,200 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of computer user support specialists were as follows:
| Computer systems design and related services | 22% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 11 |
| Wholesale trade | 6 |
| Finance and insurance | 6 |
| Government | 6 |
Some computer support specialists are able to telework. Others must be onsite or may need to travel to clients’ locations.
Most computer support specialists work full time. Because computer support services may need to be available 24 hours a day, some specialists work nights or weekends.
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.
Education requirements for computer support specialists vary. Computer user support specialist jobs require some computer knowledge but not necessarily a college degree. Applicants who have taken courses in areas such as networking, server administration, and information security may qualify for these jobs. For computer network support specialists, employers may accept applicants who have an associate’s degree, although some prefer that applicants have a bachelor’s degree.
Large software companies that provide support to business users who buy their products or services may require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree. Positions that are more technical are likely to require a degree in a field such as computer and information technology or engineering. For others, the applicant’s field of degree is less important.
To keep up with changes in technology, computer support specialists may need to continue their education throughout their careers.
Certification programs are generally offered by vendors or from vendor-neutral certification providers. Certification validates the knowledge of and best practices required by computer support specialists. Companies may require their computer support specialists to hold certifications in the products the companies use. Other types of certifications, such as CompTIA A+, may be a helpful starting point for workers seeking entry into the occupation.
Many computer support specialists advance to other information technology positions, such as information security analysts, network and computer systems administrators and software developers. Some become managers in the computer support services department. Some organizations provide paths for support specialists to move into other parts of the organization, such as sales.
Overall employment of computer support specialists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 66,500 openings for computer support specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. 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.
Computer support specialists will be needed to provide technical help and training to users with new hardware or software. However, this demand may be offset somewhat as organizations continue to implement automated tools, such as chatbots, for troubleshooting. This use of automation may free up some computer support specialists to handle more complex cases and troubleshooting that require attention. Some businesses, especially smaller ones with minimal information technology (IT) requirements, may find it more cost effective to contract with outside firms for these services rather than to hire computer support specialists directly.
For more information about computer support specialists, visit
Association of Support Professionals
Help Desk Institute (HDI)
Technology Services Industry Association
For more information about computer careers, visit
Association for Computing Machinery
Computing Research Association
Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
For information about opportunities for women pursuing information technology careers, visit
National Center for Women & Information Technology
For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of computer support specialists.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Computer and Information Systems Managers |
Computer and information systems managers plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization. |
Bachelor's degree | $164,070 |
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Computer Network Architects |
Computer network architects design and build data communication networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and Intranets. |
Bachelor's degree | $126,900 |
|
Computer Programmers |
Computer programmers write, modify, and test code and scripts that allow computer software and applications to function properly. |
Bachelor's degree | $97,800 |
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Computer Systems Analysts |
Computer systems analysts study an organization’s current computer systems and design ways to improve efficiency. |
Bachelor's degree | $102,240 |
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Customer Service Representatives |
Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and answer questions. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $37,780 |
|
Database Administrators and Architects |
Database administrators and architects create or organize systems to store and secure data. |
Bachelor's degree | $112,120 |
|
Network and Computer Systems Administrators |
Network and computer systems administrators install, configure, and maintain organizations’ computer networks and systems. |
Bachelor's degree | $90,520 |
|
Information Security Analysts |
Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. |
Bachelor's degree | $112,000 |
|
Web Developers and Digital Designers |
Web developers create and maintain websites. Digital designers develop, create, and test website or interface layout, functions, and navigation for usability. |
Bachelor's degree | $80,730 |