What is a technical support representative and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become a Technical Support Representative?

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become a technical support representative. That is the time it takes to learn specific technical support representative 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 7 to 9 years years to become a technical support representative.

Q: How much does a technical support representative make?

A technical support representative makes between $35,000 and $45,000 a year. Typically this means a person is making around $15 to $20 an hour. This, however, can vary significantly depending on education level, experience, and industry. For example, an entry-level technical support representative is likely to make around $30,000, while a technical support representative with five to ten years of experience might make closer to $50,000 in a year.

Q: Is technical support a good career?

Yes, technical support is a good career option for many people. This job is an ideal position for entry-level people who want to get into big tech. While this position does not pay as well as other tech positions, it is an important stepping stone to promotion within the field.

Q: What qualifications do I need to work in technical support?

The qualifications you need to work technical support are at least 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.

Q: What skills are required for technical support?

The skills required to work for technical support are a combination of technical and soft skills. These skills allow them to properly diagnose a technical problem and communicate that to the end-user.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Kate Marek Ph.D.

A technical support representative assists and guides customers who experience technical issues with a product or service. They work to identify, troubleshoot, and solve customersâ€™ technical issues. Technical support representatives may work in industries such as technology, healthcare, finance, and telecommunications. They must have excellent communication skills, technical knowledge, and problem-solving abilities. The role may involve working remotely or in-person, and may require flexible hours to accommodate customer needs.

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

Kate Marek Ph.D.

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 RepresentativeUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $34,758

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 10.60%

Black or African American 11.36%

Hispanic or Latino 15.79%

Unknown 5.35%

White 56.50%

Gender

female 38.49%

male 61.51%

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 representative?

Pros

Flexible working hours
Higher-than-average salary for entry-level position
Opportunities for career advancement
Chance to work in a team environment
Potential for bonuses and incentives

Cons

Repetitive nature of some tasks
Time-sensitive deadlines can lead to pressure and anxiety
Risk of burnout due to high workload, particularly during peak seasons
Negative impact on mental health due to constant exposure to negative feedback
Can be emotionally draining when dealing with distressed customers

Key steps to become a technical support representative

Explore technical support representative education requirements

Most common technical support representative degrees

Bachelor's

40.1 %

Associate

27.9 %

High School Diploma

19.9 %

Start to develop specific technical support representative skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Calls	13.71%
Smartphones	9.02%
Technical Support Calls	6.61%
Work Ethic	5.66%
Internet Connectivity	5.65%

Complete relevant technical support representative training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New technical support representatives 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 representative based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real technical support representative resumes.

Gain additional technical support representative certifications

Technical support representative 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 representative certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for technical support representatives include Network 5 Certification and Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP).

More About Certifications

Research technical support representative duties and responsibilities

Serve as a SME and the main point of contact when agents and other leads have questions.
Answer eligibility and coverage questions from insurance agents pertaining to Medicare advantage plans and prescription drug plans.
Manage mental health portion of health insurance policies including Medicaid and Medicare and other commercial insurance plans nationwide.
Generate nationwide reservations provide customer service and negotiating customer dispute (inbound and outbound calls).

Prepare your technical support representative resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your technical support representative 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 representative 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 representative resume templates

Build a professional technical support representative 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 representative resume.

Apply for technical support representative jobs

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

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

Average technical support representative salary

The average technical support representative salary in the United States is $34,758 per year or $17 per hour. Technical support representative salaries range between $27,000 and $44,000 per year.

Average technical support representative salary

$34,758 Yearly

$16.71 hourly

How do technical support representatives rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Technical support representative reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023

Pros

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

Cons

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

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

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.

What is a technical support representative and how to become one

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

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

Technical support representative career paths

Key steps to become a technical support representative

Explore technical support representative education requirements

Most common technical support representative degrees

Start to develop specific technical support representative skills

Complete relevant technical support representative training and internships

Gain additional technical support representative certifications

Research technical support representative duties and responsibilities

Prepare your technical support representative resume

Choose from 10+ customizable technical support representative resume templates

Apply for technical support representative jobs

How did you land your first technical support representative job

Average technical support representative salary

How do technical support representatives rate their job?

Technical support representative reviews

Technical support representative FAQs

How long does it take to become a Technical Support Representative?

How much does a technical support representative make?

Is technical support a good career?

What qualifications do I need to work in technical support?

What skills are required for technical support?

Search for technical support representative jobs

Technical support representative jobs by state