How to hire a helpdesk computer technician

How to hire a helpdesk computer technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step helpdesk computer 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 helpdesk computer technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new helpdesk computer technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a helpdesk computer technician job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your helpdesk computer technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a helpdesk computer technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a helpdesk computer technician to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a helpdesk computer technician that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of helpdesk computer technicians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Helpdesk Computer Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Helpdesk Computer Technician	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	$14-26
   Desktop Support Consultant	The duties of a desk support consultant vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Most of their responsibilities are likely to revolve around reaching out to clients through calls and correspondence, answering inquiries, troubleshooting, and providing corrective measures, all to attain customer satisfaction... Show more	$15-30
   Technician Support Tier	A 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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Troubleshoot
   • Technical Support
   • Helpdesk Support
   • Computer System
   • Phone Calls
   • Help-Desk Support
   • Desktop Support
   • Mac
   • OS
   • Technical Problems
   • PCS
   • VPN
   • Customer Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.
   • Configure TCP/IP to resolve network connectivity issues.
   • Install and image systems with appropriate OS for customer needs.
   • Install and maintain peripherals (printers, switches, etc . )
   • Research and resolve software conflicts between applications and OS updates and network protocols.
   • Ensure PCs have all updates push out to them by checking the SUS servers.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, helpdesk computer technicians' average salary in florida is 41% less than in delaware.
   • Seniority. Entry-level helpdesk computer technicians 45% less than senior-level helpdesk computer technicians.
   • Certifications. A helpdesk computer technician 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 helpdesk computer technician's salary.

   Average helpdesk computer technician salary

   $41,965yearly

   $20.18 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level helpdesk computer technician salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a helpdesk computer technician job description

   A helpdesk computer technician 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. Below, you can find an example of a helpdesk computer technician job description:

   Helpdesk computer technician job description example

   Xavier University is part of the 500-year-old Jesuit Catholic tradition of academic excellence in the liberal arts and is strongly committed to enhancing equity, inclusion, and diversity. These values are central to our mission. We strive for a climate of respect and inclusiveness that welcomes and supports members from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, is committed unreservedly to open and free inquiry, and deliberately seeks out multiple perspectives.
   
   Xavier University invites applications for Help Desk Technician. This individual will serve as primary Help Desk support for students, faculty, and staff. The position provides software, hardware, and network problem resolution. The qualified individual will communicate with users in a friendly, effective manner, providing technical solutions, non-technical definitions and assistance, and end-user training as needed. The technician also records, tracks, and escalates tickets as needed, as well as trains and mentors, Help Desk student staff as necessary to maintain consistent, effective service.
   Required Qualifications:
   Proficiency in working with and troubleshooting Windows and Mac operating systems, printers, scanners, computer peripherals, and mobile devices (iOS, Android) Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Office 365 products. Ability to perform basic PC hardware troubleshooting, imaging, and data migration. Experience with ITSM/ticketing software. Excellent customer service and problem-solving skills. Excellent oral/written communication skills. Ability to thrive in a team environment yet tackle issues without supervision if warranted.
   To ensure consideration, qualified/interested applicants must submit a cover letter, resume and the names and contact information of three professional references on Xavier University's website by October 12, 2022 . Candidates are asked to include with their cover letter a brief statement on how they might support/contribute to Xavier's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
   
   Xavier University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to enhancing equity, inclusion, and diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.
   
   Xavier University requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Newly hired employees will be required to provide vaccination status upon on-boarding. Vaccine exemptions may be granted for medical or religious reasons.
   
   Benefits
   
   Xavier University offers a wide array of complementary and affordable benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, health, and wellness needs of you and your family. Eligibility varies by position and employment class.
   Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage Tax advantaged accounts including health savings account, flexible spending accounts, and dependent care account. Financial security via life and long-term disability insurance, accident and illness insurance, and retirement savings plans. Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave, and holidays. Tuition remission for employees and their eligible dependents.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find helpdesk computer technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any helpdesk computer technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level helpdesk computer technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your helpdesk computer technician job on Zippia to find and recruit helpdesk computer technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit helpdesk computer technicians, 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 helpdesk computer technician 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 helpdesk computer technician

   Once you've found the helpdesk computer technician 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 helpdesk computer technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a helpdesk computer technician?