Research Summary. Here are some key points about hiring computer support specialists in the United States:
Hiring a computer support specialist comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting computer support specialists involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of computer support specialist recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.
You can expect to pay around $63,926 per year for a computer support specialist, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for computer support specialists in the US typically range between $21 and $43 an hour.
To hire a computer support specialist, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a computer support specialist:
Before you post your computer support specialist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business need. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a computer support specialist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.
Before you hire a computer support specialist, you should also consider the ideal background you'd like them to have. For example, what industry or field they have experience in, what level of seniority or education the job requires, and how much it'll cost to hire a candidate that fits the bill.
The list breaks down common computer support specialist roles and compares their salaries.
Type Of Computer Support Specialist | Description | Hourly Rate |
---|---|---|
Computer Support Specialist | Computer support specialists provide help and advice to people and organizations using computer software or equipment. Some, called computer network support specialists, support information technology (IT) employees within their organization... Show More | $21-43 |
Systems Support | A systems support agent is responsible for resolving system applications and network issues, performing technical configuration, and upgrading systems infrastructure. A systems support representative conducts regular maintenance and diagnostic tests on the computer applications to ensure its optimal performance and efficiency to support business operations and avoid delays in deliverables... Show More | $21-42 |
Computer Technician | Computer technicians are skilled information technology professionals who handle concerns related to computers. They are responsible for assisting clients in software installations, troubleshooting needs, and repair needs... Show More | $13-26 |
Before you start to recruit computer support specialists, imagine the ideal employee for this position and begin creating a profile and job description. What skills do they have, and what responsibilities do they have to be proficient in?
Here is a list of skills that are commonly associated with computer support specialist:
Here is a list of common responsibilities that computer support specialists may be expected to fulfill:
Beyond the nuts and bolts, cultural fit is an important factor. It might help to ask yourself how your ideal computer support specialist will live by the company's mission statement and contribute to the team dynamic you already have in place. Clearly communicating this vision in your computer support specialist job description will help attract candidates who are better suited for the role.
Rank # | State | # Of Jobs | % of Population | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Illinois | 2,534 | 20% | $59,083 |
2 | Georgia | 2,016 | 19% | $57,875 |
3 | Virginia | 1,652 | 20% | $60,537 |
4 | Michigan | 1,649 | 17% | $57,832 |
5 | Washington | 1,499 | 20% | $77,483 |
Including a salary range in your job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A computer support specialist can vary based on things like:
Rank | State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | California | $80,316 | $39 | |
2 | Washington | $78,452 | $38 | 2 |
3 | Pennsylvania | $68,288 | $33 | |
4 | Connecticut | $67,885 | $33 | |
5 | Delaware | $67,572 | $32 |
Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | $109,044 | $52.42 | 60 | |
2 | Brocade Services Corporation | $108,851 | $52.33 | |
3 | KLA | $102,808 | $49.43 | 15 |
4 | TIBCO Software | $100,887 | $48.50 | 4 |
5 | Tellabs | $100,669 | $48.40 | |
6 | Informatica | $98,540 | $47.38 | |
7 | Cisco | $97,702 | $46.97 | 8 |
8 | Quest Software | $97,395 | $46.82 | |
9 | Varian Medical Systems | $97,166 | $46.71 | 8 |
10 | Yahoo | $97,017 | $46.64 | 3 |
11 | Microsoft | $96,271 | $46.28 | 42 |
12 | Applied Materials | $96,238 | $46.27 | 269 |
13 | American Century Investments | $94,114 | $45.25 | |
14 | Juniper Networks | $91,506 | $43.99 | 4 |
15 | Philips | $89,021 | $42.80 | 54 |
16 | AvePoint | $88,039 | $42.33 | 1 |
17 | Activision Blizzard | $85,825 | $41.26 | |
18 | JDA Software Inc | $85,054 | $40.89 | |
19 | EPAM Systems | $83,555 | $40.17 | |
20 | HP | $83,343 | $40.07 | 65 |
A computer support specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a computer support specialist job description:
To find the right computer support specialist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:
Post your job online:
During your first interview to recruit computer support specialists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and their experience in the field. During the next interview, you can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities.
It's also a good idea to ask about candidates' special skills and talents to see if they map with your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.
In some cases, it's not enough just to interview computer support specialist candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Once you've decided on a perfect computer support specialist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should also include details such as benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.
It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.
To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.