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What is a desktop support specialist and how to become one
A Desktop Support Specialist generally oversees and maintains computer software and hardware in an organization. They help resolve technical issues regarding staff computers, including software installation, password recovery, setting up user accounts, and replacement of computer hardware, among others. Desktop Support Specialists are also referred to as technical support specialists or help desk technicians.
Desktop Support Specialists work in almost all industries. Many of them work at IT consulting firms because many small companies prefer to outsource the function. Desktop support specialists also have the option of being freelance consultants.
Most Desktop Support Specialists' typical working hours are 40 hours a week, although they usually work in shifts. They may also go beyond the 40 hours in instances where clients or staff need support.
What general advice would you give to a Desktop Support Specialist?
Ranganathan Chandrasekaran
Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, University of Illinois
Several businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, and they have rolled back their offers made to students for internships and jobs. Businesses have also resorted to downsizing and layoffs, and we are likely to see that continue, at least in the near term. However, two sectors that are showing promises of a quick turnaround are technology and healthcare.
It might take many months for the economy to get back on track, but the demand for information systems graduates is likely to grow, as a large number of businesses have turned to increased use of technology in this pandemic period. As more companies go digital, we need more professionals to manage the remote-work, technological infrastructure and meet the other demands of the business. Students pursuing education in information systems, computer science, and healthcare are going to be in greater demand.
On the positive side, the uncertainties induced by the pandemic have also helped students to prepare themselves better for a tougher job market. I found many students rise up and use the lockdown period to have a serious introspection and invest their time and effort in upgrading their knowledge and skills. The internship drought and rescinding of job/internship offers brought their dreams crashing down, but I found several students to quickly get over their disappointments, and engage in improving their skillsets utilizing the pandemic lockdown as an opportunity. I am aware of many students, especially in the information systems disciple, who spent time doing online courses, completing certification programs, and take up DIY projects on data analysis, developing analytical and forecasting models, and visualization of various aspects of the pandemic. The pandemic has resulted in massive amounts of data, released by several organizations worldwide, that have provided a stimulant for students to indulge in DIY-projects. I had several students approach me over summer to do some projects, and we have done some interesting projects using public datasets related to COVID-19.
Avg. Salary $44,962
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 10%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%
Asian 12.33%
Black or African American 11.23%
Hispanic or Latino 15.90%
Unknown 5.36%
White 54.78%
Genderfemale 12.39%
male 87.61%
Age - 41American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 41Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Desktop Support Specialist career paths
Key steps to become a desktop support specialist
Explore desktop support specialist education requirements
Start to develop specific desktop support specialist skills
Skills Percentages Customer Service 9.96% Desktop Support 8.40% Troubleshoot 7.48% PC 6.27% Technical Support 5.21% Complete relevant desktop support specialist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New desktop support specialists 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 desktop support specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real desktop support specialist resumes.Gain additional desktop support specialist certifications
More About CertificationsDesktop support specialist 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 desktop support specialist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for desktop support specialists include Security 5 Certification and Certified Network Computer Technician (CNCT).
Research desktop support specialist duties and responsibilities
- Manage computer assets utilizing Symantec Altiris.
- Manage schedule software/Security patch upgrades via SCCM.
- Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.
- Deploy McAfee anti-virus tools across enterprise.
Prepare your desktop support specialist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your desktop support specialist resume.
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Build a professional Desktop Support Specialist 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 Desktop Support Specialist resume.
Apply for desktop support specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a desktop support specialist 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
How Did You Land Your First Desktop Support Specialist Job
Are you a Desktop Support Specialist?
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Average desktop support specialist salary
The average Desktop Support Specialist salary in the United States is $44,962 per year or $22 per hour. Desktop support specialist salaries range between $33,000 and $59,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do desktop support specialists rate their job?
Desktop Support Specialist reviews
You get to help a lot of people in many different ways as well as learning new things about technology
I have aids now due to the painfulness of sitting down all day
Working with The people
There was nothing to like. Everyone was polite an hard workers
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.
I don't like sitting around being inactive. So I'll keep my self always busy
Updated January 8, 2025
