Computer System Specialist Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Many colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees or associated degrees in computer science. Some companies like Microsoft and CISCO offer online certifications in various fields of computer support that aspiring candidates can earn. Solid work experience in any field of computer support is also very useful for candidates aspiring to get into major organizations.
Training and Education
Expect to get an associate degree for this occupation. The share of computer system specialists with a bachelor's degree or higher is 68%. About 25% of workers got additional education after high school, but did not have to get a college degree. There was no need to go beyond high school for 7% of employees.
Job Overview
Computer support specialists are trained professionals who take care of and repair malfunctioning computers. The rapid increase in computer usage in homes, schools, workplaces and almost everywhere else has further increased the importance of people who know their way around a computer.
Job Requirements
Computer support specialists need to have extensive knowledge about computers. They have to be able to diagnose problems with a computer just the way a doctor diagnoses ailments in a patient. Educational requirements for the job vary widely between employers. Some may insist that the candidate possess a bachelor's degree in computer science or information systems. Others may require the candidate to possess an associate degree in any computer-related field. Still, some may just be happy with a certification in any computer related field and some relevant work experience. No matter what employers’ qualifications are, computer support specialists always need to have strong communication skills so that they can explain the nature of the problem to their clients. Clients may also need support over the phone or via e-mail, so specialists need to be able to communicate with the client properly.
Nature of Work
Computer systems specialists can work in a variety of fields depending on their educational backgrounds and work experience. Some may find work as system support technicians in companies where they assist people whose computers are not working properly. Others may find employment in technical support divisions solving problems that clients encounter over the phone or via e-mail. Others with extensive work experience may rise to the position of a system administrators, which pays very well.
The job of computer systems specialists can be quite strenuous. Towards the end of their careers, computer systems specialists often suffer from ailments like eye problems or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Area Job Conditions
Carson City (Nevada), Salem (Oregon), and Warner Robins (Georgia) boast the most computer system specialists for their size population. Cape Coral (Florida), Gary (Indiana), and Rochester (New York) have the fewest.
The highest salaries for workers are in and around Washington (District of Columbia), Atlantic City (New Jersey), and Pascagoula (Mississippi). The lowest-paying areas are Muskegon (Michigan), Provo (Utah), and Lakeland (Florida).
Part-Time and Self Employment
It is estimated that 6% of computer system specialists work less than full time. Self-employment is the choice of 7% of workers.
Career Videos
Computer System Specialists by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $66,000 | 440 | -45% |
| Huntsville | $88,000 | 820 | +167% |
| Montgomery | $73,000 | 580 | +132% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $76,000 | 330 | +40% |
| Fairbanks | $70,000 | 130 | +212% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | $63,000 | 50 | -32% |
| Phoenix | $71,000 | 1,040 | -64% |
| Tucson | $57,000 | 420 | -24% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $50,000 | 60 | -79% |
| Little Rock | $62,000 | 340 | -33% |
| Pine Bluff | $53,000 | 40 | -6% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $80,000 | 440 | +11% |
| Fresno | $66,000 | 230 | -54% |
| Hanford | $74,000 | 50 | +37% |
| Oakland | $93,000 | 2,570 | +63% |
| Oxnard | $77,000 | 520 | +17% |
| Riverside | $68,000 | 770 | -61% |
| Sacramento | $67,000 | 2,870 | +111% |
| Salinas | $84,000 | 400 | +78% |
| San Diego | $79,000 | 4,190 | +104% |
| San Francisco | $85,000 | 4,750 | +210% |
| San Jose | $94,000 | 3,580 | +154% |
| San Luis Obispo | $64,000 | 60 | -57% |
| Santa Ana | $72,000 | 2,840 | +21% |
| Santa Barbara | $68,000 | 180 | -27% |
| Santa Rosa | $77,000 | 50 | -82% |
| Stockton | $68,000 | 110 | -65% |
| Vallejo | $80,000 | 160 | -9% |
| Yuba City | $101,000 | 50 | -1% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $76,000 | 910 | +288% |
| Colorado Springs | $73,000 | 910 | +143% |
| Denver | $76,000 | 4,300 | +124% |
| Fort Collins | $77,000 | 560 | +224% |
| Grand Junction | $53,000 | 70 | -8% |
| Pueblo | $64,000 | 50 | -30% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $66,000 | 160 | -76% |
| Hartford | $68,000 | 330 | -63% |
| New Haven | $59,000 | 120 | -71% |
| Norwich | $82,000 | 70 | -61% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $69,000 | 280 | -43% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $96,000 | 16,730 | +371% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $59,000 | 30 | -90% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $60,000 | 300 | -73% |
| Fort Walton Beach | $70,000 | 160 | +53% |
| Gainesville | $68,000 | 60 | -63% |
| Jacksonville | $72,000 | 470 | -49% |
| Lakeland | $32,000 | 60 | -79% |
| Miami | $62,000 | 500 | -67% |
| Orlando | $43,000 | 780 | -51% |
| Palm Bay | $68,000 | 200 | -31% |
| Panama City | $72,000 | 40 | -58% |
| Pensacola | $78,000 | 350 | +62% |
| Tallahassee | $49,000 | 70 | -71% |
| Tampa | $68,000 | 790 | -58% |
| West Palm Beach | $68,000 | 130 | -84% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $72,000 | 100 | +21% |
| Athens | $63,000 | 50 | -52% |
| Atlanta | $75,000 | 2,490 | -32% |
| Augusta | $67,000 | 190 | -37% |
| Brunswick | $75,000 | 50 | -10% |
| Columbus | $70,000 | 70 | -55% |
| Warner Robins | $69,000 | 330 | +399% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $71,000 | 1,010 | +53% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $59,000 | 630 | +57% |
| Coeur Dalene | $54,000 | 50 | -32% |
| Idaho Falls | $57,000 | 110 | +76% |
| Lewiston | $41,000 | 40 | +43% |
| Pocatello | $56,000 | 50 | +31% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $66,000 | 250 | +89% |
| Chicago | $75,000 | 9,490 | +62% |
| Peoria | $60,000 | 140 | -44% |
| Rockford | $48,000 | 130 | -41% |
| Springfield | $66,000 | 420 | +188% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne | $66,000 | 60 | -81% |
| Gary | $69,000 | 40 | -90% |
| Indianapolis | $70,000 | 1,030 | -25% |
| South Bend | $54,000 | 70 | -64% |
| Terre Haute | $63,000 | 50 | -48% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $53,000 | 190 | +288% |
| Davenport | $77,000 | 350 | +30% |
| Des Moines | $57,000 | 410 | -17% |
| Iowa City | $63,000 | 70 | -29% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $72,000 | 110 | -30% |
| Wichita | $74,000 | 300 | -35% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $56,000 | 30 | -61% |
| Lexington | $75,000 | 160 | -56% |
| Louisville | $71,000 | 520 | -45% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | $66,000 | 50 | -38% |
| Baton Rouge | $51,000 | 300 | -46% |
| Lafayette | 50 | -76% | |
| Monroe | $39,000 | 40 | -63% |
| New Orleans | $80,000 | 880 | +14% |
| Shreveport | $66,000 | 70 | -73% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $57,000 | 170 | -43% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $88,000 | 5,650 | +183% |
| Bethesda | $92,000 | 2,740 | +215% |
| Hagerstown | $85,000 | 650 | +364% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $74,000 | 90 | -37% |
| Boston | $80,000 | 2,060 | -22% |
| Framingham | $85,000 | 320 | +35% |
| Lawrence | $73,000 | 60 | -22% |
| Lowell | $75,000 | 170 | -2% |
| Springfield | $69,000 | 140 | -69% |
| Worcester | $65,000 | 180 | -51% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $73,000 | 480 | +98% |
| Battle Creek | $71,000 | 230 | +257% |
| Detroit | $87,000 | 1,910 | +76% |
| Flint | $44,000 | 140 | -29% |
| Grand Rapids | $49,000 | 990 | +73% |
| Holland | $56,000 | 130 | -10% |
| Jackson | $56,000 | 50 | -28% |
| Kalamazoo | $48,000 | 260 | +32% |
| Monroe | $65,000 | 40 | -22% |
| Muskegon | $41,000 | 50 | -39% |
| Niles | $50,000 | 50 | -41% |
| Saginaw | $59,000 | 140 | +33% |
| Warren | $66,000 | 3,270 | +85% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $56,000 | 90 | -51% |
| Minneapolis | $75,000 | 6,300 | +129% |
| Rochester | $62,000 | 340 | +161% |
| St Cloud | $57,000 | 110 | -24% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $71,000 | 190 | +23% |
| Jackson | $68,000 | 140 | -63% |
| Pascagoula | $94,000 | 60 | -3% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $59,000 | 40 | -65% |
| Jefferson City | $72,000 | 40 | -57% |
| Kansas City | $77,000 | 1,480 | -6% |
| Springfield | $42,000 | 90 | -69% |
| St Louis | $76,000 | 2,870 | +38% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $50,000 | 60 | -13% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | 160 | -33% | |
| Omaha | $71,000 | 380 | -46% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City | $70,000 | 330 | +879% |
| Las Vegas | $64,000 | 740 | -48% |
| Reno | $58,000 | 260 | -15% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $71,000 | 110 | -26% |
| Nashua | $96,000 | 210 | +5% |
| Portsmouth | $73,000 | 170 | +124% |
| Rochester | $72,000 | 60 | -22% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $91,000 | 510 | +138% |
| Camden | $56,000 | 660 | -18% |
| Edison | $73,000 | 2,270 | +44% |
| Newark | $94,000 | 2,010 | +30% |
| Trenton | $74,000 | 780 | +146% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $76,000 | 490 | -17% |
| Las Cruces | $66,000 | 100 | +20% |
| Santa Fe | $57,000 | 140 | +63% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $82,000 | 320 | -52% |
| Buffalo | $62,000 | 140 | -83% |
| Nassau | $63,000 | 300 | -84% |
| New York | $74,000 | 3,240 | -59% |
| Rochester | $63,000 | 50 | -93% |
| Syracuse | $69,000 | 60 | -87% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $84,000 | 100 | -62% |
| Charlotte | $74,000 | 620 | -54% |
| Durham | $77,000 | 430 | +5% |
| Fayetteville | $68,000 | 430 | +146% |
| Greensboro | $73,000 | 80 | -86% |
| Jacksonville | $66,000 | 180 | +241% |
| Raleigh | $72,000 | 720 | -7% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $56,000 | 80 | +6% |
| Fargo | $62,000 | 60 | -64% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $66,000 | 290 | -43% |
| Canton | $42,000 | 40 | -84% |
| Cincinnati | $68,000 | 1,930 | +21% |
| Cleveland | $70,000 | 1,760 | +8% |
| Columbus | $80,000 | 1,890 | +32% |
| Dayton | $78,000 | 1,200 | +103% |
| Springfield | $64,000 | 40 | -36% |
| Toledo | $57,000 | 150 | -68% |
| Youngstown | $48,000 | 80 | -77% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $74,000 | 650 | -24% |
| Tulsa | $67,000 | 270 | -59% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $71,000 | 80 | -15% |
| Eugene | $53,000 | 210 | -3% |
| Medford | $56,000 | 140 | +19% |
| Portland | $72,000 | 2,960 | +86% |
| Salem | $63,000 | 1,560 | +615% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | $76,000 | 1,070 | +125% |
| Johnstown | $79,000 | 40 | -47% |
| Lancaster | $58,000 | 40 | -89% |
| Lebanon | $67,000 | 80 | +32% |
| Philadelphia | $74,000 | 2,100 | -27% |
| Pittsburgh | $69,000 | 660 | -62% |
| Reading | $54,000 | 40 | -83% |
| Scranton | $75,000 | 130 | -66% |
| State College | $54,000 | 120 | +59% |
| York | $83,000 | 150 | -43% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $73,000 | 950 | +10% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $75,000 | 250 | -43% |
| Columbia | $55,000 | 270 | -49% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $40,000 | 110 | -68% |
| Clarksville | $68,000 | 80 | -23% |
| Johnson City | $65,000 | 90 | -12% |
| Knoxville | $52,000 | 230 | -54% |
| Memphis | $70,000 | 550 | -42% |
| Nashville | $60,000 | 630 | -46% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $79,000 | 1,000 | -14% |
| Beaumont | $81,000 | 30 | -87% |
| Corpus Christi | $74,000 | 220 | -15% |
| Dallas | $77,000 | 1,860 | -42% |
| El Paso | $68,000 | 140 | -64% |
| Fort Worth | $66,000 | 600 | -55% |
| Houston | $79,000 | 2,670 | -33% |
| Killeen | $65,000 | 220 | +29% |
| Midland | $76,000 | 60 | -33% |
| San Antonio | $73,000 | 1,220 | -5% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $70,000 | 920 | +213% |
| Provo | $31,000 | 220 | -9% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg | $74,000 | 50 | -39% |
| Charlottesville | $82,000 | 60 | -54% |
| Richmond | $77,000 | 520 | -43% |
| Virginia Beach | $79,000 | 1,550 | +35% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $50,000 | 50 | -55% |
| Bremerton | $79,000 | 290 | +152% |
| Kennewick | $72,000 | 180 | +44% |
| Seattle | $81,000 | 5,820 | +164% |
| Spokane | $52,000 | 260 | -16% |
| Tacoma | $63,000 | 370 | -8% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $58,000 | 40 | -81% |
| Huntington | $65,000 | 60 | -63% |
| Parkersburg | $76,000 | 280 | +194% |
| Wheeling | $58,000 | 30 | -65% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay | $46,000 | 50 | -79% |
| Madison | $56,000 | 320 | -36% |
| Milwaukee | $65,000 | 410 | -68% |
| Racine | $43,000 | 30 | -72% |
Wyoming
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper | $66,000 | 60 | +23% |
| Cheyenne | $60,000 | 90 | +60% |