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Technology

IT Support Specialist

IT support specialists troubleshoot hardware, software, and network problems for users — a common, accessible entry point into the tech industry.

Median salary (BLS)

$60,000

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$40k – $90k

Job outlook

+6% (about average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to IT Support Specialist

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

Certifications (CompTIA A+, etc.) often matter more than a degree.

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

Estimate

Cost to qualify

$300–$2,150

Time to qualify

9 mo

Renewal

  1. 1

    High school diploma or GED

    Course

    Expected by most employers; if you need the GED, test fees run $0–$150 depending on the state.

    $0–$150 · 3 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    On-the-job training

    Experience

    Employer-provided and typically paid — days to a few months for most no-degree roles.

    Cost varies · 3 months source

  3. 3

    Industry certification (optional)

    Certification

    Vendor certifications (AWS, CompTIA, Google, Microsoft…) are a common entry booster, rarely a hard requirement.

    $300–$2,000 · 3 months source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "IT Support Specialist" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior IT Support Specialist

    Entry / Junior

    $40,000

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. IT Support Specialist

    Established

    $60,000

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior IT Support Specialist

    Senior

    $75,000

Key skills

TroubleshootingOperating systemsNetworking basicsCustomer service

A typical day

  • Resolve help-desk tickets
  • Set up hardware and accounts
  • Document fixes

Fields of study

Information Technology · Computer Science

Top colleges for Technology

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.

Related careers

Other careers from this field of study

Mapped by field-of-study code (Information Technology, Computer Science), not by job-title guessing.