How to hire a senior desktop support technician

How to hire a senior desktop support technician, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The senior desktop support 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?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect senior desktop support technician 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 senior desktop support technician salaries for various roles:

   Type of Senior Desktop Support Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Desktop Support 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	$18-40
   Supervisor, Technical Support	A supervisor of technical support oversees the technical support operations in a company, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. It is their duty to set guidelines and timelines, monitor the daily operations of staff, coordinate with managers and engineers, delegate tasks among teams, and liaise with potential business partners... Show more	$29-58
   Technician Support Team Leader	The Technician Support Team Leader is tasked with leading and training the technical support team. As a team leader, you will be required to organize scheduled staff reviews and communicate new procedures and policies with them... Show more	$30-58

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Desktop Support
   • Troubleshoot
   • PC
   • Technical Support
   • Remote Desktop
   • Network Printers
   • Customer Service
   • SCCM
   • OS
   • Network Troubleshooting
   • Mac
   • VPN
   • Remedy
   • Computer System

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Use call tracking system to manage support tickets place in queue and meet require SLA's.
   • Manage incoming tasks and incidents in remedy and troubleshooting.
   • Manage and assume primary responsibility for distributing VPN user laptops.
   • Format and partition hard drive and install windows OS.
   • Contribute to special projects including hardware roll-outs and OS upgrades.
   • Assist with creation of software packages for deployment via Microsoft SCCM.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior desktop support technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A senior desktop support technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, senior desktop support technicians' average salary in mississippi is 42% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior desktop support technicians earn 54% less than senior-level senior desktop support technicians.
   • Certifications. A senior desktop support technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a senior desktop support technician's salary.

   Average senior desktop support technician salary

   $58,384yearly

   $28.07 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior desktop support technician salary

   $39,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

4. Writing a senior desktop support technician job description

   A good senior desktop support 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 senior desktop support technician job description:

   Senior desktop support technician job description example

   The Sr. Services Technician performs installation, modification, repair, testing and/or servicing on systems and communications equipment, including, but not limited to: hardware and peripherals; software configuration; voice, video and data cabling systems; and networks.Incumbents service both internal Insight teammates, as well as clients on site.
   What you'll do at Insight
   
   Hardware
   Performs necessary hardware and peripheral repairs. This includes, but is not limited to, identifying the problem and determining the most efficient and cost effective way to resolve the problem, keeping customer downtime to a minimum. Installs and tests system hardware at customer site. This includes, but is not limited to, setting up the hardware, testing the hardware to make sure it is working, identifying system hardware problems and following any special instructions. Completes all required documentation involved in a service call to ensure accurate billing, and timely return of defective products/parts, with respect to warranty or contract. This includes completion of required Insight and vendor paperwork, preparing defective product or parts for return to vendor, and promptly returning defective products/parts and paperwork according to Insight policies and procedures. Identify system hardware problems and determine the most efficient and cost effective way of resolving the problem. Perform necessary hardware and peripheral repair, keeping client downtime to a minimum. Identify defective parts and order replacement parts utilizing vendor supplied tools such as web sites, phone support, etc. Understand current depot programs such as Hot Swap and AR3D; participate as needed. Other duties as assigned. Video, Voice and Data Cabling Systems
   Provides telephone support for a geographically dispersed user community using a combination of desktop remote control products. Resolve software configuration problems and diagnose hardware problems at the workstation level. Identifying, pulling, terminating and labeling Cat3, 5e, Cat 6, Cat 6A, coax and fiber optic cable Installing support structures and pathways (J-hooks, support rings, cable slings and cable tray / ladder rack, conduit and raceway). Termination of work station outlets, patch panels, 110 and 66 blocks. Fiber terminations. Termination with multi-pair / strand cable (Copper and fiber). Reading blue prints, identifying cable paths and some assistance with site surveys, and bidding. Other duties as assigned. Networking
   Installs, tests, and configures network and data communication equipment such as switches, routers, firewalls, VPN devices, etc. Installs, tests, and supports Network Operating Systems (NOS) and their applications. Performs server hardware support, troubleshooting, and performance tuning. Implements and supports Active Directory and supporting technologies such as DNS, DHCP, WINS, etc. Implements and supports Microsoft server applications such as Exchange, SMS, IIS, RIS, etc. Other duties as assigned. What you'll need to join Insight
   Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) from four-year College or university or 2 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. LANs, WANs, Personal Computers, messaging and server software applications experience required. Cable plants, network services, email, bulletin boards, and CD-ROM libraries needed. Ability to automate tasks using basic scripting techniques required. Remotely manage devices to determine user experiences and debug issue, utilizing knowledge base and call script skills required. Must be able to work with both ends of basic level testing as well as high level testing and documentation. High level of technical proficiency in microcomputer product areas a must. Familiarity with large account environments and protocol required. Working knowledge in major desktop operating systems (Windows 2000, Windows NT and Windows XP Workstation). Comfort and familiarity with to take units apart and re-assemble required. Excellent troubleshooting skills needed. Must have the ability to keep current with alternative systems and technology and make technology recommendations to management consistent with the company's business and systems strategies. Ability to enter data into systems accurately required. Must have the ability to multitask with strong organization and time management skills. Must be able to respond effectively to inquiries or complaints within a timely fashion. Knowledge of receiving, warehouse and safety procedures a plus. Possession a valid forklift certification a plus. The position described above provides a summary of some the job duties required and what it would be like to work at Insight. For a comprehensive list of physical demands and work environment for this position, click here.
   
   Internal teammate application guidelines:
   Meet the minimum qualifications and requirements of the position; Have completed twelve (12) months service in their current position; six (6) months of service in warehouse roles; Not be under a disciplinary evaluation or suspension period; Have satisfactory performance in their current position; Have their current manager/supervisor recommendation Click here to find resources to help prepare for the interview process.
   
   Do you know someone who would make a great Insight teammate?
   
   Referrals are the best way to build quality teams - and a great way for you to earn a little extra cash. Please visit the Teammate Referral Policy page on Inside.Insight to find out how you can refer someone to this job at Insight.
   
   Insight is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.
   
   Posting Notes: Remote || Arizona (US-AZ) || United States (US) || IT Infrastructure & Support || None || Remote ||
   
   Nearest Major Market: Phoenix
   Job Segment: Testing, Technical Support, System Administrator, Technician, Developer, Technology

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior desktop support technician 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 senior desktop support technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior desktop support technicians 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 senior desktop support technician job on Zippia to find and attract quality senior desktop support technician candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting senior desktop support technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a senior desktop support technician applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and 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 senior desktop support technician

   Once you've selected the best senior desktop support technician candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   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 senior desktop support 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.)

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