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What is a technical support agent and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Kate Marek Ph.D.
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A technical support agent assists and guides customers facing technical issues with a product or service. They work in industries, including healthcare, finance, and retail. Technical support agents troubleshoot problems over the phone, email, or chat, and provide solutions to customers. They also document their interactions with customers and escalate complex issues to higher-level support teams when necessary. Technical support agents must possess excellent communication skills and patience to resolve issues.

What general advice would you give to a technical support agent?

Kate Marek Ph.D.Kate Marek Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Director and Professor, Dominican University

Choose an organization in tune with one's values. Look for a job in growth areas, such as data asset management, data analysis, etc.
ScoreTechnical Support AgentUS Average
Salary
2.4

Avg. Salary $30,389

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.7

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 10.56%

Black or African American 11.34%

Hispanic or Latino 16.18%

Unknown 5.38%

White 56.12%

Gender

female 42.34%

male 57.66%

Age - 41
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41
Stress level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a technical support agent?

Pros

  • Opportunity to learn new technologies

  • Chance to interact with different people and cultures

  • Develop problem-solving skills

  • Work-from-home options

  • Potential for overtime pay

Cons

  • Dealing with angry or frustrated customers

  • Long hours sitting in front of a computer

  • High-pressure sales targets can be challenging to meet

  • Constantly changing policies and procedures can be confusing

  • Working on holidays and weekends

Technical support agent career paths

Key steps to become a technical support agent

  1. Explore technical support agent education requirements

    Most common technical support agent degrees

    Bachelor's

    33.4 %

    Associate

    27.0 %

    High School Diploma

    26.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific technical support agent skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service14.10%
    Email Clients8.05%
    Technical Support Issues7.07%
    Inbound Calls6.29%
    Internet Connectivity4.21%
  3. Complete relevant technical support agent training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New technical support agents learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a technical support agent based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real technical support agent resumes.
  4. Gain additional technical support agent certifications

    Technical support agent certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific technical support agent certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for technical support agents include Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research technical support agent duties and responsibilities

    • Answer eligibility and coverage questions from insurance agents pertaining to Medicare advantage plans and prescription drug plans.
    • Assist in trouble shooting for client's website and cellphone app (using the apple and android devices )
    • Provide quality customer service while demonstrating the ability to effectively troubleshoot and resolve advance technical inquires.
    • Assist customers with troubleshooting android and iPhone devices.
  6. Prepare your technical support agent resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your technical support agent resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a technical support agent resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable technical support agent resume templates

    Build a professional technical support agent resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your technical support agent resume.
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    Technical Support Agent Resume
  7. Apply for technical support agent jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a technical support agent job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first technical support agent job

Zippi

Are you a technical support agent?

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Average technical support agent salary

The average technical support agent salary in the United States is $30,389 per year or $15 per hour. Technical support agent salaries range between $23,000 and $40,000 per year.

Average technical support agent salary
$30,389 Yearly
$14.61 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do technical support agents rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

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2 stars

1 star

Technical support agent reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023
Cons

I have aids now due to the painfulness of sitting down all day

Pros

You get to help a lot of people in many different ways as well as learning new things about technology


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

I decided to go to technical support because I've been fascinated by technology all my life and I love working with the people as well. I want to use my technical know-how to solve directly the problems that customers have. I want to be the person who makes life easier and more enjoyable for people who have had a problem. This is what I like most as a technical Support.

Cons

I don't like sitting around being inactive. So I'll keep my self always busy


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

I enjoy the challenges and learning new things . Technology is always evolving.

Cons

Customer is unwilling to provide you with necessary information in order to assist them.


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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.

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