What is a helpdesk lead and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
Kate Marek Ph.D.
The average helpdesk lead salary is $66,875. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an computer science major. It usually takes 1-2 years of experience to become a helpdesk lead. Helpdesk leads with a Security 5 Certification certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 10% and produce 83,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a Helpdesk Lead?

K

Kate Marek Ph.D.Kate Marek Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Director and Professor, Dominican University

Choose an organization in tune with one's values. Look for a job in growth areas, such as data asset management, data analysis, etc.
ScoreHelpdesk LeadUS Average
Salary
5.2

Avg. Salary $66,875

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.7

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 11.37%

Black or African American 12.59%

Hispanic or Latino 15.11%

Unknown 5.30%

White 55.23%

Gender

female 18.97%

male 81.03%

Age - 41
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41
Stress Level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.5

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.4

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Helpdesk Lead career paths

Key steps to become a helpdesk lead

  1. Explore helpdesk lead education requirements

    Most common helpdesk lead degrees

    Bachelor's

    54.4 %

    Associate

    30.7 %

    Master's

    5.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific helpdesk lead skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Desk Support8.03%
    Remote Desktop6.53%
    Technical Support6.04%
    Phone Calls5.87%
    Troubleshoot4.40%
  3. Complete relevant helpdesk lead training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New helpdesk leads 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 lead based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real helpdesk lead resumes.
  4. Research helpdesk lead duties and responsibilities

    • Manage helpdesk environment, troubleshooting and resolving open tickets and issues at highest support level while maintaining core SLA's.
    • Resolve remote client connectivity issues with VPN, RAS, and Dialups.
    • Install, configure and troubleshoot computers, computer relate peripheral hardware, software and network connectivity.
    • Resolve Citrix connection and printing problems.
  5. Get helpdesk lead experience

    Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a helpdesk lead. The most common roles before becoming a helpdesk lead include help desk analyst, technical support specialist team lead and systems administrator.
  6. Prepare your helpdesk lead resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your helpdesk lead resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a helpdesk lead resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Helpdesk Lead Resume templates

    Build a professional Helpdesk Lead resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Helpdesk Lead resume.
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    Helpdesk Lead Resume
    Helpdesk Lead Resume
  7. Apply for helpdesk lead jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a helpdesk lead job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Helpdesk Lead Job

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Average helpdesk lead salary

The average Helpdesk Lead salary in the United States is $66,875 per year or $32 per hour. Helpdesk lead salaries range between $52,000 and $85,000 per year.

Average Helpdesk Lead Salary
$66,875 Yearly
$32.15 hourly

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How do helpdesk leads rate their job?

-/5

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Helpdesk Lead reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023
Pros

You get to help a lot of people in many different ways as well as learning new things about technology

Cons

I have aids now due to the painfulness of sitting down all day


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

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.

Cons

I don't like sitting around being inactive. So I'll keep my self always busy


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

I enjoy the challenges and learning new things . Technology is always evolving.

Cons

Customer is unwilling to provide you with necessary information in order to assist them.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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