Computer User Support Specialists
SOC 15-1232 · 2024-2034
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.
How the U.S. Department of Labor describes this work. Published in English only.
Shrinking -2.2%
California projects this job will shrink over the next ten years. Fewer openings may mean a harder search.
What California expects of this job
- Typical pay in California
- $81,797per year
- Projected openings
- 44,720
- Projected change
- -2.2%
- Usually needs
- Some college, no degree
Skills this work uses most
O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupation database, rates how important each of these is to this work, and they are listed in that order, most important first. The ratings themselves are not shown, because the data carries the number without the scale it was measured on. The names are as published, in English.
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Writing
Pay by region
| Region | Typical pay in California | Projected openings |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom MSA (El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo Counties) | $105,214 | 9,920 |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD (San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) | $93,399 | 4,130 |
| Oakland-Fremont-Berkeley MD (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties) | $84,101 | 2,830 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara MSA (San Benito and Santa Clara Counties) | $83,129 | 4,060 |
| Vallejo MSA (Solano County) | $81,948 | 240 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara MSA (Santa Barbara County) | $80,387 | 730 |
| San Rafael MD (Marin County) | $79,806 | 180 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma MSA (Sonoma County) | $78,846 | 330 |
| Napa MSA (Napa County) | $77,388 | 90 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville MSA (Santa Cruz County) | $75,405 | 150 |
| Yuba City MSA (Sutter and Yuba Counties) | $74,327 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD (Los Angeles County) | $73,698 | 9,930 |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine MD (Orange County) | $72,687 | 4,290 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA (San Diego County) | $71,420 | 3,950 |
| Salinas MSA (Monterey County) | $71,399 | 220 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles MSA (San Luis Obispo County) | $71,379 | 190 |
| El Centro MSA (Imperial County) | $71,255 | 110 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties) | $67,845 | 2,580 |
| Stockton-Lodi MSA (San Joaquin County) | $67,660 | 360 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura MSA (Ventura County) | $67,516 | 500 |
| Merced MSA (Merced County) | $67,218 | 90 |
| Modesto MSA (Stanislaus County) | $67,218 | 220 |
| Hanford-Corcoran MSA (Kings County) | $66,777 | 80 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region (Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity Counties) | $66,202 | 130 |
| North Coast Region (Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, and Mendocino Counties) | $64,086 | 130 |
| Bakersfield-Delano MSA (Kern County) | $63,562 | 460 |
| Chico MSA (Butte County) | $62,781 | 120 |
| Fresno MSA (Fresno and Madera Counties) | $62,648 | 740 |
| Visalia MSA (Tulare County) | $62,514 | 240 |
| Redding MSA (Shasta County) | $62,216 | 130 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region (Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne Counties) | $58,796 | 100 |
What the pay actually ranges across
- The lowest-paid tenth earn under
- $53,733
- A quarter earn under
- $64,548
- Half earn under
- $81,797
- Three quarters earn under
- $104,629
- The highest-paid tenth earn over
- $126,186
A median is one point. These are the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2026 figures for California, and they say how far apart the people doing this job actually are. Read them as the spread across everyone already in the work — not as a starting wage and not as a promise about where anyone lands.
Similar work
O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupation database, names these as occupations involving work similar to this one — its own reading of the job, not a grouping by code. They keep O*NET's order, and only those California publishes a projection for are shown.
| Occupation | Typical pay in California | Projected openings | Projected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $179,292 | 207,260 | +18.4% |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $81,407 | 9,510 | +5.8% |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $109,420 | 11,510 | -4.5% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $131,295 | 41,500 | +9.7% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $138,203 | 59,320 | +11.1% |
| Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers | $59,928 | 6,220 | -12.7% |
Programs that train for this job — 50
A+ Certification / Computer Technician
Monrovia Community Adult School · Monrovia · $3,760
- Working 6 months later
- 67%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $9,750
Computer Support Technician
West Los Angeles College · Culver City · $1,195
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
CIS - Computer Support A.S. Degree
Cabrillo College · Aptos · $5,815
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
CIS - Computer Support Certificate of Achievement
Cabrillo College · Aptos · $3,130
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Systems Administrator
Antelope Valley Adult School · Lancaster · $450
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Computer Support Specialist - Desktop Support Tech
Antelope Valley Adult School · Lancaster · $900
- Working 6 months later
- 24%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $14,000
A+ Certification
ABCO Technology · Los Angeles · $3,906
- Working 6 months later
- 85%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $8,000
Computer Technician Certificate of Accomplishment
City College of San Francisco · San Francisco · $676
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Fundamentals of Technical Support Certificate of Accomplishment
City College of San Francisco · San Francisco · $630
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Internet of Things Certificate of Achievement
City College of San Francisco · San Francisco · $860
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Computer Technical Support Certificate of Achievement
City College of San Francisco · San Francisco · $1,044
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
IT Service and Support Training
JobTrain · Menlo Park · $5,500
- Working 6 months later
- 37%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $3,250
Computer Support Technician Advanced
Mayfield College, Inc. · Cathedral City · $17,850
- Working 6 months later
- 82%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
A+ CompTIA Certification Training (Online instructor-led, exam voucher included)
California State University San Marcos Extended Learning · San Marcos · $2,195
- Working 6 months later
- 92%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Office Professional
Martinez Adult Education · Martinez · $925
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Information Technology Technical Support
De Anza College, Occupational Training Institute · Cupertino · $5,933
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Outcomes cover more than this program The provider filed these figures against more than the program named — several of its programs, or the whole institution. They are shown because they are real, and nothing here ranks or rates them, because they do not describe this program.
Computer Operation and Applications Live Online Program (English)
International College · Valencia · $4,500
- Working 6 months later
- 43%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $11,050
Computer Operation and Applications Live Online Program (Spanish)
International College · Valencia · $4,500
- Working 6 months later
- 48%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $8,970
Computer Helpdesk Technician Apprenticeship
Rightvarsity Technologies, LLC · San Jose · $8,973
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Microsoft Certified Solution Associate & Expert
CA Trade Academy · Ontario · $3,900
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Microsoft Certified Solution Associate and Expert
CA Trade Academy · Ontario · $3,900
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Computer Technician
Abram Friedman Occupational Center-LAUSD · Los Angeles · $2,500
- Working 6 months later
- 57%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $18,915
IT Support Technician
Abram Friedman Occupational Center-LAUSD · Los Angeles · $1,210
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Network Security
Sillers Institute · Palm Desert · $8,000
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Computer Support Technician
Ventura Adult and Continuing Education · Ventura · $5,437
- Working 6 months later
- 89%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $10,000
Outcomes cover more than this program The provider filed these figures against more than the program named — several of its programs, or the whole institution. They are shown because they are real, and nothing here ranks or rates them, because they do not describe this program.
Docker
Amfasoft · Fremont · $3,000
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
CompTIA Network+ (Hybrid)
Charter Oak Adult Education · Covina · $637
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Network Control Operator
Venice Skills Center - LAUSD · Venice · $2,700
- Working 6 months later
- 50%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $20,514
Computer Set Up / Maintenance and Operation
Intech College · South El Monte · $7,275
- Working 6 months later
- 60%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Able-Disabled Advocacy UAC
Able-Disabled Advocacy UAC · San Diego · $0
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
CompTIA A+ Certification Training (Vouchers Included)
SDSU Global Campus · San Diego · $3,592
- Working 6 months later
- 98%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $17,625
SLO Partners Apprenticeship
SLO Partners Apprenticeship · San Luis Obispo · $15,000
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
AWS Certification Prep Program
Career Development Solutions · Orange · $6,000
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+ Certification (DOD8570)
Career Development Solutions · Orange · $7,073
- Working 6 months later
- 62%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $8,832
Hardware Specialist (A+ Certification)
Integrated Digital Technologies (IDT) · Glendale · $4,800
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
IT Support
Jewish Vocational Service · San Francisco · $7,200
- Working 6 months later
- 68%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $11,297
Technical Support Associate
Strategic Information Resources, Inc. · Canoga Park · $0
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Computer and Network Support
College of the Sequoias · Visalia · $996
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported
Computer Technician
Harbor Occupational Center - LAUSD · San Pedro · $2,712
- Working 6 months later
- 59%
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $18,915
Computer Maintenance and Repair
California City College · Riverside · $6,500
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Earnings in one quarter after
- Not reported