Post job

How to hire a support

Support hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring supports in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a support is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per support on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 116,990 supports in the US, and there are currently 136,788 job openings in this field.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for supports, with 35 job openings.

How to hire a support, step by step

To hire a support, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a support:

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

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

What does a support do?

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. They also help with implementing strategic procedures to improve operations and reach maximum productivity. A support employee must have excellent communication and customer service skills, ensuring clients' satisfaction with the services and maintain good feedback to boost the company's brand, attract more clients, and increase revenues.

Learn more about the specifics of what a support does
jobs
Post a support job for free, promote it for a fee
  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a support, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A support's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, supports from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

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

    Type of SupportDescriptionHourly rate
    SupportComputer 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$11-25
    Information Technology/Support TechnicianAn information technology (IT) support technician is a professional who is responsible for providing support and troubleshoots software and hardware problems faced by customers. As for larger organizations that have their own IT department, technicians must work together internally with their IT staff members... Show more$14-31
    Administrative Technical SupportAdministrative 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
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Cash Management
    • Customer Satisfaction
    • HR
    • Inventory Control
    • Ladders
    • Basic Math
    • Math
    • Sales Floor
    • Patients
    • Cleanliness
    • Data Entry
    • Punctuality
    • Computer System
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage SharePoint site user access using ITSM ticketing system, efficiently handle 3 plus trouble tickets daily.
    • Manage office LAN, instituting daily backups of all corporate documents, network-wide virus protection, and firewall security.
    • Prepare and maintain production reports in excel, access, and PowerPoint.
    • Train physicians on how to effectively use CPOE - order entry and order set.
    • Assist in creating PowerPoint presentations for monthly business meetings, MLS reports and daily listings.
    • Work closely with the builder team, to troubleshoot any issues the clinic are experiencing.
    More support duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, supports' average salary in maine is 35% less than in hawaii.
    • Seniority. Entry-level supports 56% less than senior-level supports.
    • Certifications. A support 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 support's salary.

    Average support salary

    $36,227yearly

    $17.42 hourly rate

    Entry-level support salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 7, 2025

    Average support salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Hawaii$47,528$23
    2Delaware$47,225$23
    3District of Columbia$46,960$23
    4New Jersey$46,935$23
    5California$45,421$22
    6Maryland$45,154$22
    7North Carolina$45,096$22
    8New York$44,236$21
    9Oklahoma$42,861$21
    10Washington$40,399$19
    11Virginia$40,165$19
    12Ohio$39,970$19
    13Oregon$39,471$19
    14Pennsylvania$39,002$19
    15Arizona$38,858$19
    16Alaska$38,741$19
    17Florida$38,048$18
    18Michigan$37,486$18
    19Indiana$37,168$18
    20Georgia$37,156$18

    Average support salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Microsoft$91,875$44.1727
    2NTT Data International L.L.C.$84,648$40.7055
    3Tata Group$80,183$38.5566
    4Capgemini$78,642$37.8113
    5Cognizant$67,948$32.67127
    6Wpp Us Holdings Inc$63,235$30.401
    7Bloomberg$62,784$30.189
    8Accenture$61,264$29.4528
    9Esri$60,520$29.101
    10BNY Mellon$58,975$28.3528
    11Novetta$58,469$28.11
    12JPMorgan Chase & Co.$57,327$27.56122
    13Planned Systems International$57,125$27.464
    14Barclays$56,951$27.383
    15Pwc$55,832$26.843
    16Skyworks Solutions$53,898$25.911
    17Infoway software$52,319$25.15
    18Harvard University$50,087$24.08
    19Mount Sinai Health System$49,952$24.0210
    20Fastenal$49,867$23.9726
  4. Writing a support job description

    A support 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 support job description:

    Support job description example

    Now Hiring Immediately!

    What We Can Offer You:Every team member deserves the star treatment! Each career comes with a variety of benefits for both hourly and salaried team members. *Benefits may vary by career category, see career listing for exact details*
    Employee Discount 401kGrowth OpportunitiesEducation AssistanceHealth BenefitsParental LeavePaid Time Off

    In the Kitchen Support position, you will be supporting the team to contribute to strong execution of duties and provide a memorable Guest experience. This individual should possess high energy, be outgoing, and be a quality driven team player. Kitchen Support employees are provided with the opportunity to pursue culinary growth in the future.

    A Day in the Life of a Kitchen Support:
    The essential duties and responsibilities of a Kitchen Support include, but are not limited to, the following:
    Brings a passion for food and an energetic and fun attitude daily Prepares all required items for line in accordance with approved recipes and portion controls Follows and executes prep lists daily Maintains cleanliness and proper storage of all food products in accordance with health and safety regulations Maintains policies and procedures to minimize food waste, theft, and ensures proper food storage, food requisitions, safety, and sanitation Cleans food preparation area and equipment after each use Communicates well with Team Members to ensure Guests receive an extraordinarily memorable dining experience Provides a professional image at all times through proper Cinemark culinary attire Ensures that standard operating procedures and all preventative maintenance, safety, sanitation are consistently achieved Attends a mandatory Shift Huddle (team discussion) at the start of or during the shift In conjunction with server staff, consistently identifies and sanitizes Guest high-contact areas within and around the kitchen and dining area (restaurant, lounge, bar, and patio areas) Consistently ensures and promotes adherence of proper social distancing guidelines Properly utilizes Personal Protective Equipment while completing position-specific tasks Adapts to the frequency and scope of required cleaning tasks Monitors safety and or security issues (trip hazards, lighting, suspicious persons, etc.) and reports issues to management Performs other work-related duties as assigned

    What You Will Need to Have:
    Must be at least 16 years of age Completes basic food handling training and obtains any local or state mandated certification, health card, or food handlers permit where required Team Members who work with alcohol are required to complete a Safe Alcohol Service training program Availability to work flexible hours which include evenings, weekends, and holidays Requires regular and consistent attendance Has an energetic and friendly attitude during each shift Provides excellent Guest service Interpersonal skills include the ability to communicate (verbal and written) with all ages, genders, and personalities. Must be able to effectively and regularly converse in and comprehend EnglishAbility to work in a team environment and independently Ability to take and follow direction Responds with a sense of urgency

    What Physical and Environmental Requirement You Will Need to Have:
    Frequent bending, kneeling, and lifting up to 50 lbs.Frequent standing, walking and reaching Ability to carry, push, and pull objects Noise level may be moderate to high at times Be able to work in a standing position for extended periods of time

    *Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    DISCLAIMER: This job description is intended only as a general guideline of your duties and responsibilities at Cinemark and is not a legally binding contract. Cinemark reserves the right to amend, change or terminate the job description, as it deems appropriate. Any change amendments, or modifications may be implemented even though they have not been communicated, reprinted or substituted in this job description.

    All Cinemark theatres are designated smoke-free workplaces. This includes vapor, electronic, conventional, cigars, etc.

    Cinemark USA, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right support for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your support job on Zippia to find and recruit support candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific 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 supports, 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.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    Sometimes, it's not enough to interview support candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

    • 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 support

    Once you've selected the best support 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new support 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

How much does it cost to hire a support?

Hiring a support comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting supports involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of support recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $36,227 per year for a support, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for supports in the US typically range between $11 and $25 an hour.

Find better supports in less time
Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring supports FAQs

Search for support jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse computer and mathematical jobs