How to hire a hardware support specialist

How to hire a hardware support specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step hardware support specialist hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The hardware support specialist 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?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect hardware support specialist also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of hardware support specialist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Hardware Support Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Hardware 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	$20-41
   Administrative Technical Support	Administrative technical support maintains every technical set-up used in a company. Their primary responsibility is to inspect a company's systems, evaluate for issues, and repair any problems immediately... Show more	$13-36
   Support	A support employee is responsible for assisting the business operations and responding to customers' inquiries and concerns regarding its goods and services. Support logs all customers' interaction and escalates potential complaints to the appropriate department... Show more	$11-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hardware Support
   • Technical Support
   • Computer System
   • Linux
   • Phone Calls
   • Customer Service
   • Remedy
   • POS
   • Microsoft Windows
   • Customer Support
   • Troubleshoot
   • Remote Desktop
   • OS
   • Computer Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all operating end-user software including JavaScript - updating/installing Java.
   • Work with users to troubleshoot printing, scanning, computer, network, and server system issues.
   • Decorate for high number of complete tickets that are escalate and ability to troubleshoot undocument issues.
   • Standardize PC imaging according to departmental specifications, which result in streamline deployment and support processes.
   • Help with networking issues which include the role-out of the new Cisco phone servers and VPN access for employees.
   • Have experience with government data security requirements using commercial data encryption software and security certificate management for email and data access.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your hardware support specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A hardware support specialist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, hardware support specialists' average salary in nebraska is 52% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level hardware support specialists 51% less than senior-level hardware support specialists.
   • Certifications. A hardware support specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a hardware support specialist's salary.

   Average hardware support specialist salary

   $61,209yearly

   $29.43 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level hardware support specialist salary

   $43,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 29, 2025

4. Writing a hardware support specialist job description

   A hardware 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 hardware support specialist job description:

   Hardware support specialist job description example

   Title: Hardware Support Specialist
   
   Location: Remote in the U.S.
   
   ICS is hiring an IT Hardware Support Specialist to deliver great service to customers using their B2B software solutions; coupled with complementary hardware. The ideal candidate will have experience with Red Hat Linux, Networking Routers, NAS s, and other technical troubleshooting. We are looking for team players who can embrace the customer service philosophy to ensure they continue to provide unparalleled customer service!
   
   WHAT YOU LL DO:

   • Provide inbound phone support for hardware/software support issues from external customers
   • Troubleshoot technical server, system, networking, desktop, and application issues and recommend or perform actions to correct problems via phone calls and email
   • Record data from conversations or emails in a ticketing system
   • Ensure NAS devices are working correctly on a daily basis
   • On a rotating basis, technicians are required to provide after-hours support, this includes weekends. When assigned to after-hours support technicians are responsible for correcting technical issues through phone calls and email.

   
   WHAT YOU LL NEED:

   • Experience within a Technical Support role in a call center environment to support external customers
   • Associate s Degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience of at least two years with technical support.
   • Superior Customer Service Skills
   • 2+ year of experience with any of the following: Red Hat Linux, Networking Routers, NAS s
   • Must be able to lift at a minimum of 50lbs.
   • Knowledge of these things is a plus: SonicWalls, AWS, Red Hat Linux, Synology s NAS, Laser & Impact Printers
   • Experience within Automotive or Dealership Management Software (DMS) is a plus!.
   • Able to work occasional weekend rotation.

   
   About Infinity Consulting Solutions
   
   At Infinity Consulting Solutions our mission is to cultivate successful long term relationships with candidates and clients matching the right candidate with the right client. We believe technology cannot replace the real personal relationships we cultivate. We reject the notion that technology alone is the answer to staffing which is why we our successful partnerships rely on collaboration NOT automation. ICS has been providing flexible staffing solutions for over 20 years in Information Technology, Compliance, Accounting / Finance and Corporate Support. Our staffing solutions include Contract, Temp to Perm and Permanent Placement.
   
   ICS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right hardware support specialist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with hardware support specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit hardware support specialists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your hardware support specialist job on Zippia to find and attract quality hardware support specialist candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit hardware support specialists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   If your interviews with hardware support specialist applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • 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 hardware support specialist

   Once you've found the hardware support specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

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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