How much does a computer user support specialist make?
The median computer user support specialist in the United States earns $60,340 per year, about $29.01 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all computer user support specialists earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 15-1232.
Computer user support specialist salary range
Pay for computer user support specialists spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $38,780 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $98,010. The average (mean) wage of $64,990 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,780 | $18.65 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $47,580 | $22.87 | |
| Median (50th) | $60,340 | $29.01 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $77,010 | $37.02 | |
| 90th percentile | $98,010 | $47.12 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for computer user support specialists (SOC 15-1232), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Computer user support specialist salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Computer user support specialists earn the most in District of Columbia at $76,880 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $46,690. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $76,880 | 3,690 |
| California | $76,870 | 70,920 |
| Massachusetts | $75,670 | 19,570 |
| Connecticut | $68,800 | 9,220 |
| Washington | $68,640 | 20,450 |
| Vermont | $68,170 | 2,000 |
| Colorado | $66,270 | 15,740 |
| New Jersey | $65,810 | 19,930 |
| New Hampshire | $64,850 | 3,400 |
| New York | $63,910 | 41,260 |
| Virginia | $63,420 | 20,300 |
| Minnesota | $62,970 | 14,740 |
| Delaware | $62,280 | 2,220 |
| Maryland | $62,200 | 10,820 |
| Arizona | $61,990 | 20,400 |
| Oregon | $61,120 | 9,020 |
| North Dakota | $59,420 | 1,260 |
| Rhode Island | $59,420 | 2,050 |
| Hawaii | $59,250 | 2,430 |
| Wyoming | $58,680 | 810 |
| North Carolina | $58,660 | 21,730 |
| Alaska | $58,600 | 1,050 |
| Wisconsin | $58,570 | 13,390 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,130 | 29,220 |
| Florida | $58,120 | 48,780 |
| Nebraska | $57,920 | 4,930 |
| Utah | $57,560 | 10,750 |
| Georgia | $57,160 | 26,900 |
| Nevada | $56,900 | 6,550 |
| Iowa | $56,710 | 6,370 |
| Illinois | $56,540 | 25,370 |
| Michigan | $56,110 | 21,970 |
| Maine | $56,050 | 2,630 |
| Texas | $55,320 | 61,290 |
| Indiana | $55,030 | 12,530 |
| West Virginia | $54,850 | 1,840 |
| Tennessee | $54,420 | 11,010 |
| Ohio | $53,500 | 22,090 |
| Montana | $53,410 | 1,910 |
| Louisiana | $53,350 | 3,990 |
| Missouri | $52,730 | 15,570 |
| Kentucky | $51,630 | 8,280 |
| Idaho | $51,080 | 3,090 |
| Kansas | $50,870 | 6,090 |
| South Carolina | $50,500 | 10,510 |
| Oklahoma | $50,090 | 8,730 |
| Alabama | $48,860 | 7,430 |
| Arkansas | $47,720 | 4,010 |
| New Mexico | $47,540 | 4,210 |
| South Dakota | $46,780 | 1,300 |
| Mississippi | $46,690 | 3,220 |
State median wages for computer user support specialists (SOC 15-1232), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for computer user support specialists
The BLS projects employment of computer user support specialists to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 3.5%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 750,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 724,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 39,700 openings a year for computer user support specialists. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a computer user support specialist
The typical entry-level education for computer user support specialists is some college but no degree, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a computer user support specialist earns
Seniority, employer, location, and specialization matter most. Workers at large tech firms and in expensive metros like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York cluster near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $76,880) and the lowest (Mississippi, $46,690) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 697,210 people work as computer user support specialists in the United States. At $60,340 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Computer user support specialist salary FAQ
How much does a computer user support specialist make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a computer user support specialist is $29.01. The middle half of computer user support specialists earn between $22.87 and $37.02 per hour.
What is the highest computer user support specialist salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of computer user support specialists earn more than $98,010 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a computer user support specialist make a year?
The median annual salary for a computer user support specialist is $60,340. The average (mean) wage of $64,990 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a computer user support specialist a well paid job?
At $60,340 a year, a computer user support specialist earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 697,210 people work as computer user support specialists in the United States.
Which state pays computer user support specialists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for computer user support specialists at $76,880 a year. California ($76,870) and Massachusetts ($75,670) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a computer user support specialist a good career?
Employment of computer user support specialists is projected to shrink 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 39,700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a computer user support specialist?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for computer user support specialists as some college but no degree, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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