What is a support staff and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A support staff is a group that provides assistance and support to an organization or business. They can perform a wide range of tasks, including administrative duties, customer service, technical support, and more. The support staff is responsible for ensuring that the day-to-day operations of a company run smoothly, and they may work in various departments. They help the company achieve its goals and objectives by supporting employees and customers.

ScoreSupport StaffUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $31,772

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.0

Growth Rate 36%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.67%

Asian 6.21%

Black or African American 8.79%

Hispanic or Latino 16.86%

Unknown 4.88%

White 62.59%

Gender

female 68.75%

male 31.25%

Age - 48
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 - 48
Stress Level
8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.7

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.2

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Support Staff?

Pros

  • Varied and diverse work

  • Chance to learn new skills

  • Chance to be a part of a team

  • Gain experience in customer service

  • Opportunity to develop problem-solving skills

Cons

  • Dealing with difficult or frustrated customers

  • Limited opportunities for advancement or growth

  • Often undervalued and underappreciated by management

  • Constantly changing policies and procedures

  • Can be emotionally draining

Support Staff career paths

Key steps to become a support staff

  1. Explore support staff education requirements

    Most common support staff degrees

    Bachelor's

    46.2 %

    Associate

    19.8 %

    High School Diploma

    18.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific support staff skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Customer Service8.59%
    Developmental Disabilities6.98%
    Mental Health6.42%
    Meal Preparation6.12%
    Direct Care5.76%
  3. Complete relevant support staff training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New desk clerks supervisors 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 support staff based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real support staff resumes.
  4. Research support staff duties and responsibilities

    • Manage SharePoint inventory repository and assign access levels to new hires as needed.
    • Provide companionship to the consumer.
    • Tutor students in various science courses, English and GED prep classes.
    • Maintain a safe, supportive and therapeutic environment which fosters growth and rehabilitation.
  5. Prepare your support staff resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your support staff 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 support staff resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Support Staff Resume templates

    Build a professional Support Staff 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 Support Staff resume.
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  6. Apply for support staff jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a support staff 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 Support Staff Job

Zippi

Are you a Support Staff?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average support staff salary

The average Support Staff salary in the United States is $31,772 per year or $15 per hour. Support staff salaries range between $25,000 and $40,000 per year.

Average Support Staff Salary
$31,772 Yearly
$15.28 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do desk clerks supervisors rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Support Staff reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

Observing clients master new skills and interacting with client on daily.Providing new challenges and goals specific to client abilities.

Cons

Family members disregard for clients Rights and only seem to want clients funds.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

To help most people out of their respective concern.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Cons

The scheduling can change at anytime. There are always shortage of workers to cover shifts especially overnight shifts. You can get stuck on a shift any given day. The people you work with has more issues than the people you are hired for to take care of. They can be lazy!!!


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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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