This article is part of an IT Career News series called Your Next Move. These articles take an inside look at the roles related to CompTIA certifications. Each article will include the responsibilities, qualifications, related job titles and salary range for the role. As you consider the next move in your IT career, check back with CompTIA to learn more about your job prospects and how to get there.
If you like to solve technical issues and work with people, then help desk technician may be a good next step for you.
What Is a Help Desk Technician?
A help desk technician’s responsibilities include:
- Diagnosing and solving computer issues
- Installing and training end users in new technologies
- Providing remote technical support over the phone or internet
- Backing up and restoring data files
- Repairing hardware and configuring software to maintain operating systems
A help desk technician must have both hard and soft skills because the position requires a strong technical understanding as well as the ability to communicate clearly with others. For example, when a user has a question, the help desk technician must be able to diagnose the IT issue as well as explain the solution to the user. Read more about the daily life of a help desk technician here.
How to Become a Help Desk Technician
While a formal education may help you get the job, a college degree is not necessary to become a help desk technician. IT certifications will prove that you have the skills to handle the job. CompTIA A+ is a widely recognized certification held by help desk technicians.
Get Ready to Get CompTIA A+
You have many training options to help you prepare for your CompTIA A+ exam, including self-study materials, virtual labs, online classes and in-person career prep classes. CompTIA Tech Career Academy offers its IT-Ready Technical Support program in classrooms, so that students get the training they need to earn CompTIA A+ and launch their IT careers on the help desk.
Learn More about the CompTIA Tech Career Academy.
The Details
Salary Range
The median salary and wage for computer support specialists are $57,910 per year and $27.84 per hour as of May 2021 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)).
Job Outlook
From 2021 to 2031, the BLS projects an increase of 6% for computer support specialists, with 56,400 net new jobs expected during that 10-year period.
Job Titles Related to Help Desk Technician
- Computer support technician/specialist
- Help desk support engineer
- Desktop support specialist
Will your next move be help desk technician? If so, check out CompTIA A+ to get you there.
6 comments
Hi! I am very glad to join this course, I completed my three years diploma program in Information Te
Hi! I am very glad to join this course, I completed my three years diploma program in Information Technology at university of Juba , South Sudan, from May 17, 2009 to June 11 2015. I have developed skills in Help desk ticketing system Office 365 management Tier 1 level troubleshooting Active Directory user management Client and server Technology Build management virtual machineRead full commentHi,Yohannes i read your discriptions it helps me a lot it teach me the things i didnt know about my
Hi,Yohannes i read your discriptions it helps me a lot it teach me the things i didnt know about my IT certificate now i already know which step i must take thank you Read full commentI would like to start my cert in Help Desk
Sample of reported job titles: Computer Specialist, Computer Support Specialist, Computer Technician
Sample of reported job titles: Computer Specialist, Computer Support Specialist, Computer Technician, Desktop Support Technician, Help Desk Analyst, Help Desk Technician, Information Technology Specialist (IT Specialist), Support Specialist, Technical Support SpecialistRead full commentHi, Yohannes! Thanks for your questions. You have a number of studying options and can start at any
Hi, Yohannes! Thanks for your questions. You have a number of studying options and can start at any time! I'd recommend downloading the exam objectives first to see what's covered by the CompTIA A+ exams and understand what you know and what you need to work on. From there, you can either self-study with books and online tools, like CompTIA CertMaster, or you can take a class. How long it takes to get certified depends on your previous knowledge and experience. The cost and timing of training varies depending on the option you choose. You can see the options offered by CompTIA and our partners here: https://www.comptia.org/training/by-certification/a Good luck!Read full commentDear Sir/Madam, I went through your description on the roles and the qualities of a good help desk t
Dear Sir/Madam, I went through your description on the roles and the qualities of a good help desk technician ought to have and I found it really good. Well done! My question is ;if I want to start studying as soon as possible, When is the earliest time I can start? How long does it take to complete the certification? What are the criteria's? How much does the entire course cost? Can I have it online? Thank you in advance and I hope to hear from you any time soon. best regards, Yohannes Gessese Nashville TN USARead full comment