# Computer User Support Specialists

> Provide technical assistance to computer users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone, or electronically. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-user-support-specialists
- SOC code: 15-1232.00
- Career family: Computers and math
- Median annual pay: $61,860 (10th percentile $40,980, 90th percentile $100,540)
- Projected growth: Decline, -3.5%
- Openings a year: 39,700
- Typical entry education: Some college
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CRI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 52 |
| Investigative (I) | 46 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 39 |
| Enterprising (E) | 23 |
| Conventional (C) | 84 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 95/100)
- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 84/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 83/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 82/100)
- Processing Information (importance 77/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 73/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 70/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 70/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 68/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Writing, Judgment and Decision Making, Active Learning, Learning Strategies, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Computers and Electronics, Customer and Personal Service, Telecommunications, English Language, Education and Training, Mechanical, Engineering and Technology, Administration and Management, Administrative, Communications and Media

## Also called

Application Customer Service Representative (Application CSR), Application Support Engineer, Applications Analyst, Automatic Data Processing Customer Liaison (ADP Customer Liaison), Call Center Support Representative (Call Center Support Rep), Cloud Operations Specialist, Computer Customer Support Specialist, Computer Hardware Technician (Computer Hardware Tech), Computer Help Desk Representative (Computer Help Desk Rep), Computer Help Desk Specialist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Health and Medical Administrative Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5107) (CIP 5107, 1,585 colleges)
- [Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1110) (CIP 1110, 1,184 colleges)
- [Agricultural Business and Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0101) (CIP 0101, 394 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Agricultural Business and Management | $101,659 | $145,218 | $13,000 |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $143,686 | $11,000 |
| [Rochester Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rochester-institute-of-technology-2250) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $99,592 | $138,679 | $26,124 |
| [Bentley University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bentley-university-220) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $81,350 | $122,075 | not reported |
| [Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brigham-young-university-provo-byu-utah-302) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $88,800 | $118,606 | $10,250 |
| [University of Nebraska at Omaha](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-nebraska-at-omaha-2973) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $79,901 | $114,504 | $22,000 |
| [DePaul University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/depaul-university-illinois-795) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $80,818 | $113,645 | $22,500 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $85,333 | $112,554 | $22,000 |

## Related careers

- [Computer Network Support Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-network-support-specialists): $76,220 median pay
- [Network and Computer Systems Administrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/network-and-computer-systems-administrators): $99,130 median pay
- [Computer Systems Engineers/Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-engineers-architects): $116,580 median pay
- [Computer Systems Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-analysts): $105,850 median pay
- [Software Developers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/software-developers): $135,980 median pay
- [Database Administrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/database-administrators): $104,620 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.