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How to hire a computer system technician

Computer system technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring computer system technicians in the United States:

  • There are currently 79,795 computer system technicians in the US, as well as 99,879 job openings.
  • Computer system technicians are in the highest demand in Los Alamos, NM, with 7 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a computer system technician is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new computer system technician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a computer system technician, step by step

To hire a computer system technician, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a computer system technician:

Here's a step-by-step computer system technician hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a computer system technician job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new computer system technician
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a computer system technician do?

Computer system technicians provide support for a company's operating systems. They monitor the system's overall performance and catch errors to resolve as soon as possible. These technicians use software that ensures a network's functional performance, maintains hardware that can affect the system's performance, and relays computer reports to clients in layman's terms. Their jobs include training employees on using the company's hardware and software resources, thus the importance of quickly familiarizing with the system.

Learn more about the specifics of what a computer system technician does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The computer system technician hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A computer system technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, computer system technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    Here's a comparison of computer system technician salaries for various roles:

    Type of Computer System TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    Computer System TechnicianComputer 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$24-43
    Technician Support TierA technician support tier focuses on providing technical support to clients or employees within a company. Typically working in a team setting, a technician support tier addresses technical problems and troubleshoots to identify the root of the issues and perform necessary corrective measures or repairs... Show more$18-37
    Technical System AnalystTechnical Systems Analysts are employees who are adept in information technology (IT). They work in the IT department, where they oversee the different networks and systems that exist in the company... Show more$30-50
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Technical Support
    • Electronic Equipment
    • Trouble Tickets
    • Troubleshoot
    • DOD
    • Customer Service
    • Switches
    • Linux
    • Unix
    • System Administration
    • Level Troubleshooting
    • Communications-Computer Systems
    • Windows Server
    • Computer Network
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage LAN at test center sites locate around the country.
    • Manage collaborative CSV documentation efforts using Microsoft SharePoint.
    • Use of Linux operating system.
    • Install hardware, configure protocols utilizing TCP/IP.
    • Serve as Linux subject matter expert for onboard robot computers.
    • Maintain and repair POS equipment, computers, and printers.
    More computer system technician duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the computer system technician job description is a good way to get more applicants. A computer system technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a computer system technician in Missouri may be lower than in Rhode Island, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level computer system technician. Additionally, a computer system technician with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average computer system technician salary

    $68,788yearly

    $33.07 hourly rate

    Entry-level computer system technician salary
    $51,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 20, 2026

    Average computer system technician salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Rhode Island$84,090$40
    2Pennsylvania$82,413$40
    3California$79,836$38
    4Illinois$77,913$37
    5Texas$76,711$37
    6New York$76,027$37
    7Delaware$72,182$35
    8Virginia$71,060$34
    9Alabama$66,915$32
    10Colorado$62,237$30
    11Indiana$57,930$28
    12Tennessee$57,190$28
    13Oklahoma$56,781$27
    14Utah$55,597$27
    15Puerto Rico$46,388$22

    Average computer system technician salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Berkshire Hathaway$97,736$46.991
    2Parsons$91,548$44.0157
    3Los Alamos National Laboratory$88,388$42.4914
    4FlightSafety International$73,967$35.565
    5Raytheon Technologies$73,294$35.2447
    6Larsen & Toubro Infotech Limited Inc$71,362$34.31
    7IT Consulting Services$69,020$33.18
    8Vectrus$66,209$31.83
    9The Summit$65,852$31.663
    10LSG$63,750$30.65
    11Strategic Management Partners$62,038$29.83
    12Shelby County$61,019$29.34
    13Compa Industries Inc$56,455$27.14
  4. Writing a computer system technician job description

    A good computer system technician job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a computer system technician job description:

    Computer system technician job description example

    Job DescriptionJob Description

    JP1384 - Computing Systems Tec 3


    Summary:
    eXperience Information Technology (XIT) division is seeking an energetic and customer-focused computer technicians. The successful candidate will be providing dedicated desktop support services to an assigned customer base in various locations across the laboratory. The successful candidate will provide day-to-day desktop support services to an assigned customer base across the laboratory and day-to-day technical support services in a heterogeneous computing environment.

    Education/Experience:
    - High school diploma or higher
    - Entry level computer hardware (Windows desktop) experience
    - Windows operating system experience
    - Proven customer service experience in a retail environment

    Responsibility level :
    - Exercises minimal independent judgment with direction from supervisor

    Skills:
    - Verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, customer service and interpersonal skills (Required)
    - Basic ability to work independently and manage one’s time (Required)
    - Knowledge of computer software, such as Microsoft Office/O365 and popular internet browsers
    - Experience using an incident or ticket management system
    -Experience troubleshooting Windows or Mac Operating Systems
    -Experience using Collaboration software such as MS Teams and webex

    Major Job Duties and Responsibilities:
    - Support Windows and Mac desktop/laptop systems on the unclassified network including Installing, configuring and troubleshooting desktop, or mobile systems, workstations, and network issues including, wireless and role-based access control in a heterogeneous environment
    - Ticket master role and responsibilities
    - Setup and installation of hardware and software
    - Troubleshoot issues through on-site and remote field support



    Summary:
    Provides day-to-day technical support services, locally or remotely, to employees for network infrastructure and internal desktop systems software and hardware. Installs, configures and troubleshoots desktop, or mobile systems, workstations, and network issues in a heterogeneous environment. Tests and evaluates commercial and Laboratory developed software for quality control and proper operation. Maintains passwords, data integrity and file system security for the desktop environment. Communicates highly technical information to both technical and non-technical personnel. Recommends hardware and software solutions, including new acquisitions and upgrades.

    Education:
    Position typically requires a high school diploma and two-to-four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. At this level, additional training, certification, and/or education may be desirable.
    At this level applicable foundational vendor certification is desirable.



    COMPA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or protected Veteran status.

    COMPA's policy could disqualify an applicant who has certain criminal history from employment in particular positions .

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right computer system technician for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your computer system technician job on Zippia to find and recruit computer system technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit computer system technicians, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    Sometimes, it's not enough to interview computer system technician 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:

    • TestDome
    • CodeSignal
    • Testlify
    • BarRaiser
    • Coderbyte

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new computer system technician

    Once you have selected a candidate for the computer system technician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new computer system technician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a computer system technician?

Before you start to hire computer system technicians, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire computer system technicians pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $68,788 per year for a computer system technician, 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 system technicians in the US typically range between $24 and $43 an hour.

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