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What is a helpdesk computer technician and how to become one
A help desk technician provides technical support and assistance, whether on the phone, in person, or remotely, related to computer systems, hardware, and software. A help desk technician responds to customer queries to provide technical assistance.
Some of the tasks that they perform include responding to queries on the phone and various other means of communication, training computer users, troubleshooting and diagnosing problems, writing and editing manuals, and running reports and analyzing common complaints and problems. Qualifications include an associate's degree in computer science or a related discipline. In addition, a strong working knowledge of computer systems, good problem-solving skills, analytical skills, and interpersonal skills are also desirable and required for the position.
The average hourly salary for the position is $19.67, which equates to $40,909 annually. Since IT is the future, the career is projected to grow substantially and create new opportunities all across the United States.
What general advice would you give to a Helpdesk Computer Technician?
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 $41,965
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 10%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%
Asian 11.56%
Black or African American 13.08%
Hispanic or Latino 15.19%
Unknown 5.31%
White 54.45%
Genderfemale 27.32%
male 72.68%
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
Helpdesk Computer Technician career paths
Key steps to become a helpdesk computer technician
Explore helpdesk computer technician education requirements
Start to develop specific helpdesk computer technician skills
Skills 
Percentages Customer Service 12.21% Troubleshoot 7.83% Technical Support 7.28% Helpdesk Support 3.79% Computer System 3.37% Complete relevant helpdesk computer technician training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New helpdesk computer technicians 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 helpdesk computer technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real helpdesk computer technician resumes.Gain additional helpdesk computer technician certifications
More About CertificationsHelpdesk computer technician 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 helpdesk computer technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for helpdesk computer technicians include IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL) and Network 5 Certification.
Research helpdesk computer technician duties and responsibilities
- Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.
- Configure TCP/IP to resolve network connectivity issues.
- Install and image systems with appropriate OS for customer needs.
- Install and maintain peripherals (printers, switches, etc . )
Prepare your helpdesk computer technician resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your helpdesk computer technician resume.
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Apply for helpdesk computer technician jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a helpdesk computer technician 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 Helpdesk Computer Technician Job
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Average helpdesk computer technician salary
The average Helpdesk Computer Technician salary in the United States is $41,965 per year or $20 per hour. Helpdesk computer technician salaries range between $31,000 and $56,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do helpdesk computer technicians rate their job?
Helpdesk Computer Technician 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
There was nothing to like. Everyone was polite an hard workers
Working with The people
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
