Post job

What does a senior support specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
9 min read
Quoted expert
Babak Beheshti Ph.D.

A senior support specialist is in charge of providing technical support to clients, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. They typically communicate with clients through calls or correspondence where they address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. They may also assist clients in troubleshooting, provide step by step instructions, or recommend solutions. Furthermore, as a senior support specialist, it is essential to lead and serve as a role model for other support specialists while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.

On this page

Senior support specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior support specialist resumes:

  • Manage UNIX OS technical documentation and marketing materials.
  • Maintain desktop encryption keys for all company laptops.
  • Implement desktop and laptop encryption applications in NY area offices.
  • Oversee the backing up of company data and creation of PC images for each type of machine.
  • Perform moves, adds, and changes of PC equipment such as desktops, laptops, monitors.
  • Perform DB2 data loads on a UNIX platform, verify and update test data, utilizing execution of SQL queries.
  • Follow up with summary and SharePoint with additional information.
  • Administer Linux Client/Server environment including setting permissions and file management.
  • Deploy departmental Linux CD-ROM server for residents' interactive multimedia training.
  • Automate processes within workstation environment - major project include implementation of SCCM.
  • Maintain data security and ensure the integrity of any information add to the database.
  • Provide administration, operation and maintenance support on sensitive data, military systems, SharePoint portals and networks.
  • Plan and implement network infrastructure and OS migration tasks, in addition to telecommunication equipment installation and troubleshooting.
  • Define database requirements and identify information tools need to support tracking data distribution, collection, and archival.
  • Prepare PowerPoint presentations for client deliverables and proposals, and handle timetable follow-up procedures for client deliverables and proposals.

Senior support specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 18% of Senior Support Specialists are proficient in Customer Service, Technical Support, and Troubleshoot. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Problem-solving skills.

We break down the percentage of Senior Support Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 18%

    Researched investigated and responded to customer service's managements request for building a training room especially for customer service training.

  • Technical Support, 8%

    Trained and mentored 8 control computer operations technicians to meet daily deadlines, resolved computer operational problems and provided end-user technical support

  • Troubleshoot, 7%

    Worked to troubleshoot mainframe computer hardware and software before global customer delivery.

  • Phone Calls, 5%

    Received phone calls, e-mails, and request for shift coverage prior to shift and minutes before a shift started.

  • Data Entry, 5%

    Expedited various other tasks and clerical duties, including answering telephones, typing, data entry, updating client information/records.

  • Computer System, 3%

    Use multiple computer programs to validate eligibility and provider contract information and accurately enter prior authorization information into the computer system.

Most senior support specialists use their skills in "customer service," "technical support," and "troubleshoot" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential senior support specialist responsibilities here:

Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a senior support specialist to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic." Additionally, a senior support specialist resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "implemented an open door policy that resulted in much improved relationships and moral between management and customer support personal. "

Listening skills. Another essential skill to perform senior support specialist duties is listening skills. Senior support specialists responsibilities require that "support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions to clarify the situation." Senior support specialists also use listening skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "communicated progress, technical issues and issue resolution to senior management and clients. "

Problem-solving skills. senior support specialists are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to senior support specialist responsibilities, because "support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems, analyze them, and solve them." A senior support specialist resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "resolved technical issues throughout the site efficiently processed large amount of customer support inquires, exceeding quota"

Speaking skills. A big part of what senior support specialists do relies on "speaking skills." You can see how essential it is to senior support specialist responsibilities because "support workers must describe the solutions to computer problems in a way that a nontechnical person can understand." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical senior support specialist tasks: "assumed co-responsibility for pre-release projects for the atlas software to ensure glossary and data entry issues were addressed. "

Writing skills. Another crucial skill for a senior support specialist to carry out their responsibilities is "writing skills." A big part of what senior support specialists relies on this skill, since "strong writing skills are useful for preparing instructions and email responses for employees and customers, as well as for real-time web chat interactions." How this skill relates to senior support specialist duties can be seen in an example from a senior support specialist resume snippet: "deliver excellent customer service over the phone and in writing. "

See the full list of senior support specialist skills

Choose from 10+ customizable senior support specialist resume templates

Build a professional senior support specialist resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior support specialist resume.
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume
Senior Support Specialist Resume

Compare different senior support specialists

Senior support specialist vs. 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. There are also instances where they assist clients through calls and correspondence, assisting them with their concerns and inquiries. Moreover, a technical support supervisor must lead teams while enforcing the company's standards and policies.

If we compare the average senior support specialist annual salary with that of a supervisor, technical support, we find that supervisors, technical support typically earn a $19,476 lower salary than senior support specialists make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both senior support specialist and supervisor, technical support positions are skilled in customer service, computer system, and mac.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, senior support specialist responsibilities require skills like "technical support," "troubleshoot," "excellent interpersonal," and "phone calls." Meanwhile a typical supervisor, technical support has skills in areas such as "customer satisfaction," "direct reports," "performance reviews," and "performance appraisals." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Supervisors, technical support really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $90,464. Comparatively, senior support specialists tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $83,262.The education levels that supervisors, technical support earn slightly differ from senior support specialists. In particular, supervisors, technical support are 1.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a senior support specialist. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Senior support specialist vs. Systems support engineer

Systems support engineers are information technology professionals who are responsible for building and maintaining the IT infrastructure of an organization. They are required to provide network administration and technical support to identify complex problem issues and come up with solutions to solve them. They must assist the system support engineers in accomplishing any projects they are working with. They must troubleshoot servers, personal computers, and peripheral equipment while liaising with their customers. They must also create and maintain user accounts and implement group policy management through an active directory.

A career as a systems support engineer brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a senior support specialist. In fact, systems support engineers salary is $23,954 lower than the salary of senior support specialists per year.A few skills overlap for senior support specialists and systems support engineers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "technical support," "troubleshoot," and "computer system. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that senior support specialist responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "excellent interpersonal," "phone calls," and "data entry." But a systems support engineer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "database," "java," "customer satisfaction," and "os."

Systems support engineers earn a lower average salary than senior support specialists. But systems support engineers earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $92,061. Additionally, senior support specialists earn the highest salaries in the manufacturing with average pay of $83,262 annually.systems support engineers earn similar levels of education than senior support specialists in general. They're 2.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for senior support specialists in the next 3-5 years?

Babak Beheshti Ph.D.Babak Beheshti Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Dean, Professor, New York Institute of Technology

-The enormous growth of IoT and wearables. The number of connected devices is expected to be more than 26 billion in 2020. That includes things like household appliances, controllable lighting, and much more. This trend is likely to continue as it is expected to see the industry grow to 661 billion dollars by 2021.

-We will be witnessing a more widespread commercial deployment of 5G in 2020. With the implementation of the Standalone 5G devices based on the 3gpp release 16, we should be seeing the more robust mobile broadband deployment of 5G, wider availability of 5G smartphones, and a push towards an all 5G Network in select urban areas around the world.

-Significant growth in AI-based technologies, from face recognition and voice recognition to business intelligence and market predictions. As machines and deep learning algorithms get integrated into many applications, many industries will undergo substantial changes. AI systems will continue to interact with our phones; cars will interpret and analyze their surroundings and intelligently drive themselves. Online vendors will monitor our browsing habits, and Google decides what kind of search results to give us, based on who it thinks we are.

Senior support specialist vs. Support lead

A support lead is typically in charge of overseeing the performance of a technical support team, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction. Their responsibilities revolve around assessing the performance of the workforce, resolving complex issues, identifying customer needs and sales opportunities, and training new team members. They may also perform calls and correspondence, respond to inquiries, and resolve issues promptly. Furthermore, as a support lead, it is essential to perform clerical tasks such as preparing progress reports, managing schedules, and maintaining records of transactions.

On average, support leads earn lower salaries than senior support specialists, with a $19,699 difference per year.By looking over several senior support specialists and support leads resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "customer service," "technical support," and "troubleshoot." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a senior support specialist is likely to be skilled in "phone calls," "data entry," "computer system," and "excellent organizational," while a typical support lead is skilled in "cash management," "sales floor," "payroll," and "infrastructure."

When it comes to education, support leads tend to earn similar degree levels compared to senior support specialists. In fact, they're 2.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Senior support specialist vs. Database specialist

A database specialist is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the databases to maintain the confidentiality of data. Database specialists determine business requirements and manage multiple operating systems to build the database's efficient structures and feasibility. They also install security protection software tools and programs to prevent unauthorized access and potential leak of restricted information. A database specialist coordinates with the system engineers to improve existing databases and upgrade the network infrastructure for optimization.

Database specialists average a lower salary than the annual salary of senior support specialists. The difference is about $28,873 per year.While their salaries may vary, senior support specialists and database specialists both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "technical support," "troubleshoot," and "data entry. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between senior support specialists and database specialists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a senior support specialist might have more use for skills like "customer service," "excellent interpersonal," "phone calls," and "computer system." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of database specialists require skills like "database management," "database design," "database administration," and "windows. "

In general, database specialists earn the most working in the finance industry, with an average salary of $95,518. The highest-paying industry for a senior support specialist is the manufacturing industry.The average resume of database specialists showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to senior support specialists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 2.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.8%.

Types of senior support specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse computer and mathematical jobs