Computer Support Specialist Salary: 2026 Guide

Key takeaways

Earnings for computer support specialists in the United States are generally above average. Below are some important facts to know: 

• As of 2025, the median total pay for a computer support specialist is $68,000 per year, according to Glassdoor [1].

• San Francisco, Seattle, and Philadelphia are among the top-paying cities for computer support specialists.

• You can pursue a master’s degree to earn significantly more. 

Find out how much you can earn as a computer support specialist and what factors might affect your total compensation. Afterward, consider enrolling in Google’s IT Support Professional Certificate to develop the skills needed to perform routine IT support tasks, including computer assembly, wireless networking, end-to-end customer support, and more. 

What do computer support specialists do?

A computer support specialist provides technical help for computer users and maintains computer networks for companies and organizations.

Computer support specialists can work for companies like computer systems design businesses, financial organizations, software publishers, and more. As a computer support specialist, you’ll be responsible for helping users troubleshoot issues, performing regular maintenance, and evaluating existing systems.

Did you know that 72 percent of companies and organizations are using artificial intelligence (AI) for at least one business purpose? This number jumped from 55 percent in 2023 [2]. Learn to apply AI in your field productively and responsibly by enrolling in Google’s IT Support Professional Certificate program.

Computer support specialist average salary​

Computer network support specialists, also called IT support specialists, make an average annual salary ranging from $54,529 to $68,000 as of October 2025. Here are the salary ranges given by five different organizations that track computer support specialist salaries using the most recently available data [3, 4, 1, 5, 6]:

*Glassdoor salary information represents the median total pay. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Computer support specialist: Job outlook

Between 2024 and 2034, the BLS anticipates 50,500 job openings, on average, per year, for computer support specialists [7].

Factors that affect a computer support specialist salary

Several factors affect your salary as a computer support specialist, such as education and experience. Your location also impacts your paycheck due to the cost of living and the demand for computer support specialists. Particular industries or sectors for computer support specialists can also be better than others regarding earnings.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the factors that could potentially impact your salary as a computer support specialist.

How much does an IT specialist earn by education level?

Education requirements can vary depending on the type of position you may have as a computer support specialist, and you may not need a bachelor’s degree to qualify for a job. Large software companies, however, may prefer hiring someone with a bachelor’s degree in areas such as computer science or a similar field.

As of October 2025, here are the average computer support specialist salaries based on education level, according to Zippia [8]:

• High school diploma or less: $59,307

• Some college or an associate degree: $60,776

• Bachelor’s degree: $67,190

• Master’s degree: $78,737

• Doctorate degree: $74,705

Do you need a degree to become a computer support specialist?

According to Zippia, 51 percent of computer support specialists have a bachelor’s degree, 33 percent have an associate degree, 5 percent have a master’s degree, and 5 percent have a high school diploma [8].

IT support specialist salary by experience

The amount of experience you have as a computer support specialist can impact your salary. As of October 2025, here are the estimated median salaries you can expect based on your previous experience, according to Glassdoor [1]:

• Less than 1 year: $62,000

• 1–3 years: $65,000

• 4–6 years: $68,000

• 7–9 years: $68,000

• 10–14 years: $71,000

• 15+ years: $72,000

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of October 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

IT support specialist salary by location

Where you live affects how much you can make as a computer support specialist, especially when you factor in the cost of living or job demand in your area.

Here are the five top-paying states for computer support specialists, based on information collected by Zippia [4]:

• Washington: $77,483

• California: $74,268

• Hawaii: $72,285

• New Mexico: $71,376

• Pennsylvania: $68,047

Here are the five top-paying cities for computer support specialists [4]:

• San Francisco, CA: $80,316

• Seattle, WA: $78,452

• Philadelphia, PA: $68,288

• Stamford, CT: $67,885

• Wilmington, DE: $67,572

IT support specialist salary by industry

The industry you work in as a computer support specialist can also affect how much you make, depending on your particular area of work. For example, you can earn a median salary of $78,710 as a computer network support specialist in telecommunications [3].

In addition, Glassdoor lists the median total pay, which includes bonuses and other forms of compensation, for the following five highest-paying industries for computer support specialists [1]:

• Legal: $82,950

• Aerospace and defense: $80,626

• Management and consulting: $59,737

• Information technology: $56,368

• Arts, entertainment, and recreation: $56,054

Computer support specialist: Related jobs

Computer programmers write and test code and scripts for use with computer software programs. You'll update current software, develop new software, and create products for individuals or companies. As a computer programmer, you can expect median wages of $98,670 per year, according to the BLS [9].

Computer network architects create plans for computer networks and build them, upgrade software and hardware, or build plans for new technology for your company. A computer network architect can make a median annual wage of $130,390, according to the BLS [10].

Read more:  How to Become a Network Architect

Explore our free resources for computer support specialists

Join Career Chat, Coursera’s LinkedIn newsletter, for weekly updates on in-demand skills, tools, and certifications in information technology. Check out these other helpful digital resources:

• Watch on YouTube: Top Skills You'll Gain in the Google IT Support Professional Certificate

• Hear from an insider: Meet the IT Support Tech Advancing Toward a Cybersecurity Career

• Get tips from an expert: Reimagining Work and Learning with AI: Expert Insights from Dr. Jules White

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