Q: Do you need a degree to be an IT support specialist?

Yes, you need a degree to be an IT support specialist. Many IT support specialists can get hired with only an associate's degree, although some employers prefer applicants with a bachelor's degree.

Question 1

How long does it take to become a Support Specialist?

Accepted Answer

It takes 5 years of professional experience to become a support specialist. That is the time it takes to learn specific support specialist skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 8 to 10 years years to become a support specialist.

Question 2

Do you need a degree to be an IT support specialist?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you need a degree to be an IT support specialist. Many IT support specialists can get hired with only an associate's degree, although some employers prefer applicants with a bachelor's degree.

Question 3

What are careers in cloud computing?

Accepted Answer

Cloud architect, cloud system engineer, and data engineer are careers in cloud computing.

Cloud Architect

A cloud architect is responsible for converting the technical requirements of a project into the architecture and design that will guide the final product. They are also responsible for bridging the gaps between complex business problems and solutions in the cloud.

A cloud architect should have a strong background in cloud computing or a similar technical area and feel comfortable with various operating systems including:

Linux
Unix
Solaris
Ubuntu
Windows

A good understanding of networking, including TCP/IP, IP addresses, and HTTP is also highly important. Cloud architecture is broad and most architects find themselves having to wear many hats, so it is important to have good technical knowledge in a variety of areas.

Cloud architects will routinely work with other engineers and tech team members like DevOps and software developers to create adoption strategies and design cloud solutions. They may also work with the company's legal team to assist in negotiating contracts or ensuring that service-level agreement requirements are met.

Cloud System Engineer

Along the same lines, a cloud system engineer is an IT professional that builds and maintains cloud infrastructure. Their role can vary from day to day, but typical tasks for a cloud system engineer include:

Helping organizations migrate their computer systems to the cloud
Configuring cloud infrastructure components like networking and security services
Creating the applications and databases that perform on the cloud
Monitoring cloud management and data storage services

It is helpful to have a good working knowledge of cloud platforms before working as a cloud system engineer. It is generally recommended that you learn one platform well rather than having minimal knowledge of several platforms. The four largest cloud infrastructure platforms to date are:

Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Microsoft Azure
Google Cloud
IBM Cloud

It is also important to know about data storage and security. How access, store, and protect data are important aspects of a cloud system engineer's role.

Data Engineer

A data engineer builds systems for collecting, validating, and preparing high-quality data. They work in a variety of settings to build systems that collect, manage, and convert raw data into usable information for data scientists and business analysts to interpret.

Their ultimate goal is to make data accessible so that organizations can use it to evaluate and optimize their performance. Typical tasks for a data engineer include:

Acquiring datasets that align with business needs
Developing algorithms to transform data into useful, actionable information
Building, testing, and maintaining database pipeline architectures
Collaborating with management to understand company objectives
Creating new data validation methods and data analysis tools
Ensuring compliance with data governance and security policies

Question 4

What are the duties of an IT support specialist?

Accepted Answer

The duties of an IT support specialist are to provide organizations with information technology support to optimize operational efficiency. Their responsibilities include resolving technical issues, maintaining hardware and software installations, and improving IT systems.

Question 5

What does a computer support specialist do?

Accepted Answer

A computer support specialist provides technical support for a company, organization's customers, or their fellow staff members. The computer support specialist will use computer software and equipment to assist them in providing advice and help to their employer and fellow employees.

Question 6

What makes a good IT support specialist?

Accepted Answer

What makes a good IT support specialist is the ability to proactively solve problems involving various hardware and software products a business utilizes or produces. This job is primarily focused on fixing issues and making sure that technology is working correctly.

Question 7

What qualifications do you need to be a computer support specialist?

Accepted Answer

The qualifications you need to be a computer support specialist are an associate's degree in computer science and some work experience. Typically companies prefer to hire people with a bachelor's degree and deep knowledge of various computer programs.

Question 8

What is a good starting salary for a Support Specialist?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a support specialist is $27,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a support specialist in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for support specialists is $44,547, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a support specialist can vary by state.

Question 9

Can a support specialist make 100k?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a support specialist. While possible, it is unlikely to earn over $100k as a support specialist because even higher-paid positions do not typically earn more than $71,000 per year. The average annual salary for a support specialist is $44,547.

Question 10

What does a patient support specialist do?

Accepted Answer

A patient support specialist supports patients with chronic or other health issues and supports physicians in the patient care team. A patient support specialist plays a vital part in the treatment and recovery of the individuals.

Question 11

What percentage of Support Specialists are female?

Accepted Answer

62.1% of support specialists are female in the United States. This is 1.6 percentage points higher than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female support specialists has decreased by -5.3 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 247,203 female support specialists in the U.S. and 150,870 male support specialists in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 398,073 people with the specific job title of support specialist and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Frequently asked questions about support specialists

Questions about becoming a support specialist