Do IT techs make good money?

Yes, Information Systems (IT) Technicians make good money. This is considered one of the top highest-paying entry-level jobs in the technology industry. The tech industry is one of the fastest-growing industries today, at an 11% growth rate. This means that not only does becoming an IT Tech pay well; it also offers a certain level of job security.

How do I become an IT support technician?

To become an IT support technician, you can start by getting an associate's or bachelor's degree in computer science or an associated field. For some entry-level positions, it is possible to get a position with a high school diploma alone, while other companies may require a set number of years of experience.

How long does it take to become an IT support specialist?

It takes between two to four years to become an IT support specialist. This depends on whether you earn a bachelor's degree or an associate's degree. You can get an associate degree in information technology, computer science, or another IT-related focus, which would take about two years. However, a bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, computer engineering, or information technology management is recommended. This will take four years to complete.

What does an IT support technician do?

An IT support technician assists others with hardware or software challenges. This role may be an onsite internal staff position within a company, or it may be contracted or through a call center. IT support technicians use their understanding of computer systems to assist employees with any technical issues that may arise.

What education is needed to become an IT technician?

Typically an Information Technology (IT) Technician is required to have an associate's or bachelor's degree. These degrees are typically within the field of Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, or a related field.

What is an information technology/support technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Ranganathan Chandrasekaran,

Oriehi Destiny Anyaiwe

An information technology/support technician maintains and troubleshoots computer systems, networks, and other technological equipment. They provide technical assistance to users and resolve hardware and software issues. Technicians may also install new applications, perform system updates and backups, and ensure system security. They must be knowledgeable about operating systems, databases, programming languages, and networking protocols. Additionally, they use strong problem-solving, communication, and customer service skills to effectively help clients and colleagues.

What general advice would you give to an Information Technology/Support Technician?

Ranganathan Chandrasekaran

Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, University of Illinois

As we roll into another month of the COVID-19 pandemic, graduating students are facing one of the worst moments of their lives. They face several uncertainties; due to financial challenges, uncertainty about completing their degrees on time, adjusting to online and hybrid modes of learning, and worst of all, facing the worst job market. As a result, I see the stress and anxiety levels among the graduating students to be significantly higher, at levels I have not experienced in my academic career.

Several businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, and they have rolled back their offers made to students for internships and jobs. Businesses have also resorted to downsizing and layoffs, and we are likely to see that continue, at least in the near term. However, two sectors that are showing promises of a quick turnaround are technology and healthcare.

It might take many months for the economy to get back on track, but the demand for information systems graduates is likely to grow, as a large number of businesses have turned to increased use of technology in this pandemic period. As more companies go digital, we need more professionals to manage the remote-work, technological infrastructure and meet the other demands of the business. Students pursuing education in information systems, computer science, and healthcare are going to be in greater demand.

On the positive side, the uncertainties induced by the pandemic have also helped students to prepare themselves better for a tougher job market. I found many students rise up and use the lockdown period to have a serious introspection and invest their time and effort in upgrading their knowledge and skills. The internship drought and rescinding of job/internship offers brought their dreams crashing down, but I found several students to quickly get over their disappointments, and engage in improving their skillsets utilizing the pandemic lockdown as an opportunity. I am aware of many students, especially in the information systems disciple, who spent time doing online courses, completing certification programs, and take up DIY projects on data analysis, developing analytical and forecasting models, and visualization of various aspects of the pandemic. The pandemic has resulted in massive amounts of data, released by several organizations worldwide, that have provided a stimulant for students to indulge in DIY-projects. I had several students approach me over summer to do some projects, and we have done some interesting projects using public datasets related to COVID-19.

ScoreInformation Technology/Support TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $45,591

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.7

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 13.22%

Black or African American 10.69%

Hispanic or Latino 15.72%

Unknown 5.34%

White 54.61%

Gender

female 14.61%

male 85.39%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress Level

6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.6

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.4

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an Information Technology/Support Technician?

Pros

High demand for IT professionals
Opportunity for career growth and advancement
Good salary and benefits
Satisfaction from solving technical issues and helping others
Opportunities for continuing education and certifications

Cons

Dealing with difficult clients or users
Burnout due to repetitive tasks and dealing with the same problems constantly
Experiencing failure or mistakes can be frustrating and discouraging
Can be a solitary job, lacking social interaction with colleagues or clients
High competition in the job market, leading to potential job insecurity.

Key steps to become an information technology/support technician

Explore information technology/support technician education requirements

Most common information technology/support technician degrees

Bachelor's

50.6 %

Associate

32.3 %

High School Diploma

5.6 %

Start to develop specific information technology/support technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	12.41%
Troubleshoot	9.06%
Computer System	5.85%
Desk Support	4.75%
Phone Calls	4.02%

Complete relevant information technology/support technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New information technology/support technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an information technology/support technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real information technology/support technician resumes.

Gain additional information technology/support technician certifications

Information technology/support technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific information technology/support technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for information technology/support technicians include Network 5 Certification and Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP).

More About Certifications

Research information technology/support technician duties and responsibilities

Manage DHCP entries, assign and reserve IP addresses for different sites and locations.
Manage companies ShoreTel VoIP telephone system.
Manage and maintain network peripherals including printers, workstations and network connections.
Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.

Prepare your information technology/support technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your information technology/support technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an information technology/support technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Information Technology/Support Technician Resume templates

Build a professional Information Technology/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 Information Technology/Support Technician resume.

Apply for information technology/support technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an information technology/support technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average information technology/support technician salary

The average Information Technology/Support Technician salary in the United States is $45,591 per year or $22 per hour. Information technology/support technician salaries range between $31,000 and $66,000 per year.

Average Information Technology/Support Technician Salary

$45,591 Yearly

$21.92 hourly

How do information technology/support technicians rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Information Technology/Support Technician reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023

Pros

You get to help a lot of people in many different ways as well as learning new things about technology

Cons

I have aids now due to the painfulness of sitting down all day

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022

Pros

Working with The people

Cons

There was nothing to like. Everyone was polite an hard workers

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020

Pros

I decided to go to technical support because I've been fascinated by technology all my life and I love working with the people as well. I want to use my technical know-how to solve directly the problems that customers have. I want to be the person who makes life easier and more enjoyable for people who have had a problem. This is what I like most as a technical Support.

Cons

I don't like sitting around being inactive. So I'll keep my self always busy

What is an information technology/support technician and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an Information Technology/Support Technician?

What are the pros and cons of being an Information Technology/Support Technician?

Information Technology/Support Technician career paths

Key steps to become an information technology/support technician

Explore information technology/support technician education requirements

Most common information technology/support technician degrees

Start to develop specific information technology/support technician skills

Complete relevant information technology/support technician training and internships

Gain additional information technology/support technician certifications

Research information technology/support technician duties and responsibilities

Prepare your information technology/support technician resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Information Technology/Support Technician Resume templates

Apply for information technology/support technician jobs

How Did You Land Your First Information Technology/Support Technician Job

Average information technology/support technician salary

How do information technology/support technicians rate their job?

Information Technology/Support Technician reviews

Information Technology/Support Technician FAQs

Do IT techs make good money?

How do I become an IT support technician?

How long does it take to become an IT support specialist?

What does an IT support technician do?

What education is needed to become an IT technician?

Search for information technology/support technician jobs

Information Technology/Support Technician jobs by state