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How to hire a systems support specialist

Systems support specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring systems support specialists in the United States:

  • There are a total of 294,228 systems support specialists in the US, and there are currently 159,364 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a systems support specialist is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per systems support specialist on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Perryville, MO, has the highest demand for systems support specialists, with 6 job openings.

How to hire a systems support specialist, step by step

To hire a systems support specialist, 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 systems support specialist:

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

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

What does a systems support specialist do?

A systems support specialist is responsible for assisting end-users on system issues, including network configuration and improving network infrastructure. System support specialists implement network strategies alongside the whole technology team to boost the system's efficiency and optimal performance. They create resolution reports for reference and write recommendations to prevent system defects and inconsistencies. A systems support specialist also handles network installations and upgrades, requiring them to have excellent technical skills and knowledge of programming languages.

Learn more about the specifics of what a systems support specialist does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the systems support specialist you need to hire. Certain systems support specialist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

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

    A systems support specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, systems support specialists 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 systems support specialist salaries for various roles:

    Type of Systems Support SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Systems Support SpecialistComputer 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$19-43
    SupportA 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... Show more$11-25
    Technician Support TierA technician support tier focuses on providing technical support to clients or employees within a company. Typically working in a team setting, a technician support tier addresses technical problems and troubleshoots to identify the root of the issues and perform necessary corrective measures or repairs... Show more$18-37
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Troubleshoot
    • Technical Support
    • PC
    • System Support
    • Computer System
    • Desk Support
    • Technical Assistance
    • Technical Troubleshooting
    • Switches
    • User Support
    • PowerPoint
    • Java
    • Network Troubleshooting
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage the internal installs of the application on all relevant versions in order to test and QA new patch releases.
    • Configure VOIP IP communicators and manage user administration to ensure adequate telecommunication securely.
    • Manage large-scale PC deployments including site surveys involving verification of network activity and appropriate power availability.
    • Administer SharePoint site updates and create documentation to aid users and expedite problem resolution.
    • Used JAXB to convert XML response to Java class objects.
    • Resolve errors within proprietary application on java, oracle and unix.
    More systems support specialist duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the systems support specialist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A systems support specialist salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a systems support specialist in Idaho may be lower than in Virginia, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level systems support specialist. Additionally, a systems support specialist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average systems support specialist salary

    $61,744yearly

    $29.68 hourly rate

    Entry-level systems support specialist salary
    $41,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 18, 2026

    Average systems support specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Virginia$72,361$35
    2Wisconsin$71,330$34
    3Massachusetts$69,866$34
    4District of Columbia$69,741$34
    5Washington$68,904$33
    6New York$67,381$32
    7Ohio$66,738$32
    8California$66,497$32
    9Pennsylvania$66,023$32
    10Illinois$64,593$31
    11Minnesota$62,643$30
    12Arizona$61,897$30
    13Texas$61,878$30
    14Hawaii$61,547$30
    15Indiana$61,414$30
    16Colorado$60,269$29
    17South Carolina$59,620$29
    18Florida$59,218$28
    19Oklahoma$58,727$28
    20North Carolina$58,270$28

    Average systems support specialist salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Koch Industries$104,542$50.261
    2Oracle$102,184$49.131,025
    3Valero Energy$98,720$47.466
    4Jane Street$98,604$47.411
    5M&T Bank$93,472$44.947
    6Calamos Investments$93,005$44.712
    7The TJX Companies$91,705$44.0922
    8CompuCom Systems Inc$90,943$43.72187
    9Generac Holdings$89,301$42.9311
    10TEKsystems$88,349$42.48348
    11Nokia$87,086$41.879
    12NTT Data International L.L.C.$85,715$41.2169
    13Ansys$84,349$40.55
    14Fluor Corporation$82,723$39.7724
    15Stanford University$81,232$39.057
    16ICONMA$79,209$38.084
    17D.R. Horton$78,924$37.946
    18FCA US LLC$78,463$37.7211
    19Health Advocates$77,320$37.175
    20HCSC$77,052$37.0415
  4. Writing a systems support specialist job description

    A good systems support specialist 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 systems support specialist job description:

    Systems support specialist job description example

    Level 2 knowledge is more advanced troubleshooting; recreating and research in a test environment. Handling escalations from Support Level 1 and creating Jira tickets with issues found. Remote into the customer system and work through the issues with a systematic process.


    Essential Functions:

    Server builds and OS installations

    Understand networks and how to integrate them into our products. - Domain Controllers, App Servers, Data Servers (Split Server configuration) Clients

    Credential Configuration- PIV\CAC Enrollment

    FICAM Deployment and troubleshooting

    Understanding of databases, specifically SQL

    SQL Database Repairs\Upgrades

    Ability to remote into customer site to gather data, troubleshoot or provide solutions

    Advanced technical troubleshooting support and problem resolution.

    System administration on H/W and S/W maintenance.

    Advanced Programming for custom applications (Mantraps, Occupancy Counts, Passback, 2 Man rules, Threat Levels, Command Sets, Global I/Os)

    Utilize a ticketing system to create and Document all customer-facing issues

    Must be able to pass a federal background check.

    Act as a Trusted Advisor to customers.

    Requirements

    Working knowledge of Windows Server 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019 Windows 7, Windows 10

    SQL Server 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016

    Ability to actively participate in team support by proposing, implementing solutions and cross train

    Exceptional customer service, overall communication and technical writing skills

    Ability to communicate and work with other internal departments

    Ability to work independently with minimal management supervision and as part of team

    Demonstrated aptitude for providing exceptional customer service in politically charged environments

    Document and escalate Defects to Engineering

    Provide Resolution\Patches for known issues

    Superior problem solving and troubleshooting skills at the Support Engineer level.


    Desired Skills and Qualifications

    Knowledge of CISSP, MCSE/MCITP, CCNA, Security+, Network+ preferred. Will consider related field (or equivalent) experience.

    Experience with government technical publications and implementation desired, but not required. (HSPD-12, FISMA, FIPS-12, DISA, NIST, FICAM).

    PKI and Smartcard experience a plus.

    Working knowledge of Active Directory, Group Policy, DHCP, DNS, IIS is a plus. (Architecture, design, disaster recovery and troubleshooting.)

    Experience with Microsoft Cluster technology is a plus.

    Work Requirements

    This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

    Work Environment

    This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

    Physical Demands

    This is an active and physically demanding role. There are time, when it would require the ability to move around and lift items up to 30+ pounds.

    Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

    This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. There may be overtime hours associated with this position.

    Travel

    Limited and occasional travel is expected for this position.

    Benefits

    Were a community of committed professionals who focus on our customers needs and bring the optimal security solutions technology to meet - and then exceed their needs. Were committed to each other and to our company. By supporting each other and our business, we thrive, grow and succeed as individuals, as colleagues and as a company.

    Competitive Base Pay, Medical, Dental, Vision, Vanguard 401(k), PTO, Holiday, Sick Pay

    Supplemental Life Insurance, AD&D Insurance, FSA Medical and Dependent care plans

    We believe in the importance of hiring the finest qualified people, and to that end, and being mindful of our responsibilities to our employees and customers, all offers of employment are contingent upon the results of a confidential pre-employment background check. Identiv is committed to equal employment opportunities.

    Identiv, Inc. abides by the requirements of 41CFR 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a).

  5. Post your job

    To find the right systems support specialist 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 systems support specialists they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit systems support specialists 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.
    To find systems support specialist candidates, you can consider the following options:
    • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
    • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
    • Post your job on free job posting websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit systems support specialists, 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.

    While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a systems support specialist 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 systems support specialist

    Once you've found the systems support specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    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.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new systems support specialist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  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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How much does it cost to hire a systems support specialist?

Recruiting systems support specialists involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

Systems support specialists earn a median yearly salary is $61,744 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find systems support specialists for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $19 and $43.

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