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What is a computer repair technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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To most people, motherboards, servers, and other computer parts are nothing more than piles of wires and hardware. However, a computer repair technician can look at those parts and find a solution to somebody's computer problems. These experts are masters at installing and maintaining computer equipment.

Computer repair technicians can do everything from removing spyware programs to diagnosing problems with a computer's hardware. They can work with hardware, software, and everything in between. Often, this knowledge comes from years of practical experience gained on the job. Only about 30% of computer repair technicians bother getting bachelor's degrees.

A person who is handy with tools and knows how computers work might want to look into this field when considering a career. As more and more people start using computers for work and personal use, they will also need help fixing the inevitable problems. In fact, the demand for computer repair technicians is expected to grow by 10% by 2028.

ScoreComputer Repair TechnicianUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $32,627

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.7

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 10.72%

Black or African American 10.84%

Hispanic or Latino 16.06%

Unknown 5.37%

White 56.60%

Gender

female 10.04%

male 89.96%

Age - 41
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41
Stress level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Computer repair technician career paths

Key steps to become a computer repair technician

  1. Explore computer repair technician education requirements

    Most common computer repair technician degrees

    Associate

    40.5 %

    Bachelor's

    34.0 %

    High School Diploma

    14.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific computer repair technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Troubleshoot12.11%
    Laptop Computers10.22%
    Computer System6.43%
    Printers5.85%
    Desktop Computers5.36%
  3. Complete relevant computer repair technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New computer repair technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a computer repair technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real computer repair technician resumes.
  4. Gain additional computer repair technician certifications

    Computer repair technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific computer repair technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for computer repair technicians include Network 5 Certification and Certified Network Computer Technician (CNCT).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research computer repair technician duties and responsibilities

    • Recreate and manage company website, maintain regular updates, manage DNS servers, administrate e-mail and outlook exchange server.
    • Perform virus and spyware removal.
    • Maintain store supplies and orders with Quickbooks.
    • Perform QA testing for all steps of the process.
  6. Prepare your computer repair technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your computer repair technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a computer repair technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable computer repair technician resume templates

    Build a professional computer repair technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your computer repair technician resume.
    Computer Repair Technician Resume
    Computer Repair Technician Resume
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    Computer Repair Technician Resume
    Computer Repair Technician Resume
  7. Apply for computer repair technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a computer repair technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first computer repair technician job

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Average computer repair technician salary

The average computer repair technician salary in the United States is $32,627 per year or $16 per hour. Computer repair technician salaries range between $25,000 and $41,000 per year.

Average computer repair technician salary
$32,627 Yearly
$15.69 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do computer repair technicians rate their job?

-/5

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Computer repair technician reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

I really love technical job which is hands on.

Cons

I don’t too much simple tickets


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Cons

User is not available for investigation how hardware and software had problem.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

You learn something new each day and you get good salary from it

Cons

Kinda tough to handle customers at times and kinda tough at times to fix a printer


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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