How To Become a Computer Support Technician

To become a computer support technician, you usually need a bachelor's degree and 1-2 years of experience. The most common jobs before becoming a computer support technician are computer technician, technical support specialist, and customer service representative. Hiring managers expect a computer support technician to have soft skills such as customer-service skills, listening skills, and problem-solving skills.

The national average salary for computer support technicians is $41,852, but with the right certifications and experience, they can make up to $51,000. Getting a certification as a Security 5 Certification will help you to earn more as a computer support technician.

Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 10% and produce 83,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

How to become a Computer Support Technician in 6 steps:

  • Step 1: Explore computer support technician education
  • Step 2: Develop computer support technician skills
  • Step 3: Complete relevent training/internship
  • Step 4: Get computer support technician certifications
  • Step 5: Research computer support technician duties
  • Step 6: Prepare your resume

Key Steps To Become a Computer Support Technician

  1. Explore Computer Support Technician Education

    If you're interested in becoming a computer support technician, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 45.6% of computer support technicians have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 4.3% of computer support technicians have master's degrees. Even though most computer support technicians have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

    Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a computer support technician. When we researched the most common majors for a computer support technician, we found that they most commonly have computer science, computer information systems and information technology.

    Computer Support Technician Degrees

    Bachelors

    45.6 %

    Associate

    35.6 %

    High School Diploma

    6.9 %

    Computer Support Technician MajorPercentages
    Computer Science17.70%
    Computer Information Systems14.50%
    Information Technology11.30%
    Business10.00%
    Other Degrees46.60%

  2. Develop Computer Support Technician Skills

    It'll be a good idea to develop computer support technician skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in computer support technician job descriptions:

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service11.46%
    Technical Support8.33%
    Computer Support7.04%
    Desk Support4.25%
    Mac4.13%
    Show More

  3. Complete Relevent Training/Internship

    Computer support technicians spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new computer support technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as a computer support technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real computer support technician resumes.

    Average Amount Of Time At Training

    None

    Less than 1 month

    1-3 months

    3-6 months

    6-12 months

    1-2 years

    2-4 years

  4. Get Computer Support Technician Certifications

    Certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for this position. They can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a certification, having one may help you stand out in an application. Plus, the process of getting a certification can teach you new skills that you can bring to your work. We determined the most common certifications for computer support technicians. The most common certification is Security 5 Certification, but Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma) is also frequently seen in computer support technicians resumes.

    1. Security 5 Certification
    2. Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma)
    3. Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
    4. Certified Network Computer Technician (CNCT)
    5. Computer Service Technician (CST)
    6. Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT)
    7. Dell Certified Systems Expert (DCSE)

    More About Certifications

  5. Research Computer Support Technician Duties

    When you decide to become a computer support technician, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most computer support technician jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:

    • Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.
    • Used and become familiar with LINUX network file system.
    • Used Linux operating system to recover data from hard drives.
    • Support & troubleshoot VPN, Internet connections, email, browser and OS errors.
    • Network troubleshooting (proxy setting, TCP/IP configuration, DNS servers, etc . )
    • Install and configure new office computers to connect to the office network and the Internet via TCP/IP.

  6. Prepare Your Resume

    Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Computer Support Technician Resume templates

    Build a professional Computer Support 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 Support Technician resume.

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  7. Apply For a Computer Support Technician Job

    With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new 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

    Computer Support Technician Jobs

    8. How To Become a Computer Support Technician
    How To Become a Computer Support Technician Career Overview
Top Computer Support Technician Jobs Near You

Average Salary for a Computer Support Technician

Computer Support Technicians in America make an average salary of $41,852 per year or $20 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $51,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $34,000 per year.
Average Computer Support Technician Salary
$41,852 Yearly
$20.12 hourly
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Updated November 18, 2022