Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of technical support specialists that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of technical support specialists:
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Technical Specialist is the highest-paid type of technical support specialist with an average salary of $88,773 and an average hourly rate of $42.68.
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The second highest-paying type of technical support specialist is technical support engineer, with an average salary of $85,716.
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The average technical support specialist salary is $48,667 per year, and the average hourly pay is $23.40.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a technical support specialist, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of technical support specialists are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of technical support specialists:
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Technical Specialist
Average Salary: $88,773
The role of technical specialists is to provide technical support for applications and programs to staff members and customers within an organization. They train staff and customers on products and apps and offer advice on the best practices for utilizing technical programs and applications. They also design training materials to teach other staff members the most effective methods of using its technology. It is also their job to reduce company costs by looking for ways to improve productivity and lessen expenses.
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Technical Support Engineer
Average Salary: $85,716
A technical support engineer is responsible for responding to customer issues, providing immediate resolutions to their system issues through remote assistance. Technical support engineers must have strong knowledge of software and hardware applications to diagnose system defects and process troubleshooting. They also assist customers with the installation of programs and updates to improve system performance, escalating high-level concerns to appropriate internal technology teams. A technical support engineer must have strong command with technical systems, as well as excellent communication and time-management skills to understand clients’ issues while documenting procedures.
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Software Support Technician
Average Salary: $79,670
A software support technician is responsible for resolving software application issues, diagnosing related system failures, and writing resolution reports for reference. Software support technicians must be highly-familiarized with the system’s infrastructure and interface to immediately diagnose malfunctions and identify maintenance techniques to prevent the reoccurrence of downtimes and delays. They also assist the system engineers in the configuration and optimization of networks, including the installment of upgrades and patch updates. A software support technician must have excellent organizational and communication skills, especially in navigating computer tools and applications to create support tickets and fix the customers’ issues efficiently.
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Support Analyst
Average Salary: $75,989
The role of support analysts is to resolve problems with hardware, computer programs, and peripherals. They may focus on a particular aspect of the information technology (IT) department or give technical support to end-users. They mainly detect issues with IT equipment and software and devise solutions to resolve these issues. Also, they are responsible for answering queries from users, preparing service records, and handling escalations. Support analysts also support the company’s IT operations and best practices by creating and distributing relevant IT documents.
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Computer Specialist
Average Salary: $75,950
A computer specialist’s responsibilities typically revolve around installing and repairing computer hardware and software. They meet with clients to identify their needs, examine and troubleshoot equipment, perform upgrades, and discuss the extent of repairs or replacements to clients. In a company setting, a computer specialist is in charge of overseeing an array of equipment, conducting regular maintenance checks, and performing corrective measures as needed. Furthermore, they must provide technical support, all while implementing the company’s policies and regulations.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various technical support specialist that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Technical Support Specialists
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for technical support specialists.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Technical Support Specialist Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid technical support specialist job?
The highest-paid technical support specialist job is a technical specialist. Technical Specialists earn an average salary of $88,773, which is $ 42.68 hourly.
The role of technical specialists is to provide technical support for applications and programs to staff members and customers within an organization. They train staff and customers on products and apps and offer advice on the best practices for utilizing technical programs and applications. They also design training materials to teach other staff members the most effective methods of using its technology. It is also their job to reduce company costs by looking for ways to improve productivity and lessen expenses.
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What is a good salary for a technical support specialist?
A good salary for a technical support specialist is $48,667 or more. The average technical support specialist salary is $48,667, so those making at least $48,667 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average technical support specialist salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a technical support specialist, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $48,667 average, as this includes all technical support specialists of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Technical Support Specialist jobs pay well?
Yes, technical support specialist jobs pay well. As in any industry, some technical support specialist jobs pay better than others, but the average technical support specialist salary of $48,667 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many technical support specialist jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of technical support specialists earning $0 a year on average.
Technical Support Specialists’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a technical support specialist. Do your research on the going rate for a technical support specialist in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do technical support specialists get paid the most?
Technical Support Specialists get paid the most in New York. In New York, technical support specialists earn an average annual salary of $63,781 and an average hourly wage of $30.66.
Following NY, the states with the highest-paid technical support specialists are District of Columbia, Louisiana, and Delaware, with average annual salaries of $61,810, $54,861, and $58,423 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid technical support specialist salaries are:
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San Francisco, CA – $66,333
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New York, NY – $64,143
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Washington, DC – $61,816
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
