Computer support specialists
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Computer Support Specialists: Provide technical assistance to computer system users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone or from remote location. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems.
Computer support specialists and systems administrators held about 797,000 jobs in 2004. Of these, approximately 518,000 were computer support specialists and around 278,000 were network and computer systems administrators. Although they worked in a wide range of industries, about 23 percent of all computer support specialists and systems administrators were employed in professional, scientific, and technical services industries, principally computer systems design and related services. Other organizations that employed substantial numbers of these workers include administrative and support services companies, banks, government agencies, insurance companies, educational institutions, and wholesale and retail vendors of computers, office equipment, appliances, and home electronic equipment. Many computer support specialists worked for manufacturers of computers, semiconductors, and other electronic components.
Employers of computer support specialists and systems administrators range from startup companies to established industry leaders. With the continued development of the Internet, telecommunications, and e-mail, industries not typically associated with computers—such as construction—increasingly need computer workers. Small and large firms across all industries are expanding or developing computer systems, creating an immediate need for computer support specialists and systems administrators.
Median annual earnings of computer support specialists were $40,430 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $30,980 and $53,010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,190, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $69,110. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer support specialists in May 2004 were as follows:
| Software publishers | $44,890 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 42,780 |
| Computer systems design and related services | 42,750 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional Schools | 37,940 |
| Elementary and secondary schools | 35,500 |
Median annual earnings of network and computer systems administrators were $58,190 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $46,260 and $73,620. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,100, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $91,300. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of network and computer systems administrators in May 2004 were as follows:
| Wired telecommunications carriers | $65,120 |
| Computer systems design and related services | 63,710 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 61,600 |
| Elementary and secondary schools | 51,420 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional Schools | 51,170 |
According to Robert Half International, starting salaries in 2005 ranged from $26,250 to $53,750 for help-desk and technical support staff and from $44,500 to $63,250 for more senior technical support specialists. For systems administrators, starting salaries in 2005 ranged from $47,250 to $70,500.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Computer Support Specialists and Systems Administrators)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Computer support specialists | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting employment: 40 mean earnings: $40,180 (def) (IG) | $25,230 | $31,190 | $39,790 | $49,980 | $56,900 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry employment: 40 mean earnings: $40,240 | $25,190 | $31,210 | $39,920 | $50,070 | $56,940 |
| Mining employment: 920 mean earnings: $43,800 (EC) (def) (IG) | $22,370 | $32,330 | $42,300 | $54,270 | $66,470 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 540 mean earnings: $44,780 | $22,100 | $34,500 | $43,740 | $54,660 | $65,840 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 90 mean earnings: $45,290 | $29,250 | $34,780 | $43,680 | $53,320 | $67,430 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 290 mean earnings: $41,480 | $20,430 | $28,800 | $37,550 | $53,550 | $67,380 |
| Utilities employment: 1,700 mean earnings: $50,170 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,000 | $37,860 | $48,690 | $62,540 | $73,400 |
| Utilities employment: 1,700 mean earnings: $50,170 | $30,000 | $37,860 | $48,690 | $62,540 | $73,400 |
| Construction employment: 1,530 mean earnings: $41,990 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,840 | $31,860 | $40,530 | $51,050 | $63,070 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 790 mean earnings: $41,380 | $18,510 | $30,850 | $39,940 | $50,860 | $64,490 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 230 mean earnings: $42,230 | $27,260 | $32,600 | $40,300 | $49,600 | $61,210 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 510 mean earnings: $42,820 | $26,420 | $32,840 | $41,640 | $51,750 | $61,590 |
| Manufacturing employment: 33,980 mean earnings: $48,580 (EC) (def) (IG) | $28,220 | $35,050 | $45,040 | $58,120 | $74,340 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 930 mean earnings: $40,890 | $24,250 | $30,890 | $39,780 | $50,270 | $58,360 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 340 mean earnings: $54,720 | $28,200 | $36,370 | $48,380 | $72,650 | $91,480 |
| Textile Mills employment: 280 mean earnings: $41,650 | $25,930 | $31,050 | $38,340 | $49,620 | $64,740 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: 190 mean earnings: $36,200 | $22,110 | $26,710 | $35,040 | $44,370 | $53,940 |
| Apparel Manufacturing employment: 130 mean earnings: $39,230 | $24,960 | $30,220 | $36,190 | $45,370 | $57,240 |
| Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing employment: 80 mean earnings: $39,700 | $24,700 | $30,630 | $39,590 | $48,350 | $56,230 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 320 mean earnings: $43,440 | $24,920 | $30,770 | $40,100 | $55,610 | $69,430 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: n.a. mean earnings: $47,910 | $32,650 | $41,070 | $48,530 | $54,260 | $61,810 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 1,780 mean earnings: $41,100 | $25,590 | $31,660 | $39,670 | $49,390 | $60,080 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 50 mean earnings: $46,820 | $30,260 | $36,620 | $44,430 | $54,110 | $65,230 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 2,790 mean earnings: $46,600 | $28,280 | $35,330 | $44,470 | $56,090 | $69,740 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 610 mean earnings: $44,500 | $28,610 | $34,170 | $42,620 | $53,360 | $65,480 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 240 mean earnings: $43,480 | $25,540 | $33,250 | $41,780 | $51,730 | $65,110 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 270 mean earnings: $44,990 | $26,280 | $33,420 | $42,850 | $55,420 | $68,960 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 820 mean earnings: $41,080 | $23,070 | $30,720 | $39,400 | $48,560 | $63,370 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 3,290 mean earnings: $45,690 | $27,710 | $34,090 | $43,500 | $54,890 | $69,310 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 14,430 mean earnings: $53,300 | $29,780 | $37,540 | $48,260 | $65,520 | $87,110 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 690 mean earnings: $43,690 | $25,410 | $32,570 | $41,300 | $52,540 | $67,150 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 2,730 mean earnings: $51,760 | $30,580 | $39,750 | $52,040 | $63,820 | $72,530 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 1,020 mean earnings: $40,080 | $24,910 | $30,400 | $37,430 | $48,220 | $59,850 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 1,940 mean earnings: $42,530 | $27,220 | $32,260 | $40,340 | $51,000 | $62,260 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 28,910 mean earnings: $46,200 (EC) (def) (IG) | $26,010 | $32,870 | $42,500 | $55,090 | $72,020 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 19,150 mean earnings: $46,820 | $26,220 | $33,130 | $42,830 | $55,580 | $73,410 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 5,330 mean earnings: $42,510 | $25,940 | $31,730 | $39,880 | $50,940 | $63,340 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 4,420 mean earnings: $47,970 | $24,820 | $33,500 | $44,750 | $57,390 | $77,140 |
| Retail Trade employment: 22,420 mean earnings: $37,260 (EC) (def) (IG) | $21,170 | $26,080 | $33,540 | $44,820 | $58,120 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 640 mean earnings: $38,480 | $23,760 | $27,400 | $34,580 | $45,010 | $57,580 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores employment: 360 mean earnings: $36,370 | $22,920 | $27,170 | $34,070 | $43,150 | $56,990 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 11,730 mean earnings: $35,950 | $20,480 | $24,790 | $31,590 | $42,810 | $57,550 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: 330 mean earnings: $33,770 | $21,460 | $26,380 | $32,000 | $37,420 | $46,310 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: 230 mean earnings: $37,400 | $25,190 | $30,040 | $34,480 | $42,560 | $55,830 |
| Gasoline Stations employment: 220 mean earnings: $40,790 | $19,390 | $30,670 | $39,290 | $49,380 | $64,370 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores employment: 560 mean earnings: $41,490 | $23,360 | $27,550 | $37,600 | $54,660 | $67,080 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: 410 mean earnings: $32,140 | $16,690 | $23,280 | $30,520 | $38,840 | $51,130 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 1,430 mean earnings: $36,030 | $19,720 | $25,290 | $33,480 | $43,730 | $56,520 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 2,020 mean earnings: $39,700 | $23,880 | $29,440 | $35,500 | $45,400 | $60,620 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 4,030 mean earnings: $41,750 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,940 | $31,700 | $39,760 | $50,100 | $60,380 |
| Air Transportation employment: 620 mean earnings: $41,120 | $26,580 | $32,320 | $40,240 | $48,820 | $56,560 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 50 mean earnings: $46,680 | $26,900 | $37,000 | $47,870 | $56,910 | $66,530 |
| Water Transportation employment: 130 mean earnings: $49,120 | $30,880 | $38,950 | $50,320 | $59,940 | $67,870 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 980 mean earnings: $40,710 | $23,870 | $30,050 | $38,380 | $49,940 | $61,190 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation employment: 60 mean earnings: $40,600 | $21,220 | $31,510 | $40,220 | $47,410 | $56,620 |
| Pipeline Transportation employment: 80 mean earnings: $50,170 | $29,060 | $36,070 | $48,760 | $64,520 | $74,650 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 380 mean earnings: $44,760 | $28,540 | $33,990 | $41,500 | $52,740 | $69,740 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 740 mean earnings: $41,660 | $29,260 | $33,290 | $40,100 | $48,760 | $57,540 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 970 mean earnings: $39,580 | $25,310 | $29,960 | $36,630 | $47,240 | $56,130 |
| Information employment: 65,320 mean earnings: $45,340 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,090 | $31,130 | $41,730 | $55,810 | $71,650 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 23,800 mean earnings: $49,650 | $27,230 | $34,020 | $44,830 | $60,580 | $81,390 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 800 mean earnings: $47,480 | $28,250 | $34,290 | $44,090 | $57,410 | $71,360 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 2,800 mean earnings: $45,160 | $27,260 | $33,260 | $42,560 | $54,350 | $67,450 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 1,040 mean earnings: $41,580 | $22,800 | $30,040 | $38,450 | $50,980 | $63,820 |
| Telecommunications employment: 14,730 mean earnings: $44,950 | $24,590 | $31,190 | $42,370 | $56,350 | $68,820 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 21,290 mean earnings: $41,000 | $21,080 | $27,550 | $37,790 | $50,760 | $66,780 |
| Other Information Services employment: 860 mean earnings: $43,090 | $25,480 | $32,130 | $42,560 | $52,620 | $61,820 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 42,120 mean earnings: $46,280 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,040 | $33,630 | $42,880 | $55,140 | $71,100 |
| Monetary Authorities - Central Bank employment: 610 mean earnings: $54,450 | $26,020 | $36,310 | $51,920 | $71,860 | $88,430 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 16,840 mean earnings: $44,230 | $25,440 | $31,530 | $40,220 | $52,210 | $69,960 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 7,330 mean earnings: $53,810 | $31,070 | $39,720 | $50,850 | $64,820 | $83,860 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 16,610 mean earnings: $44,220 | $27,780 | $33,820 | $42,260 | $52,920 | $64,880 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 730 mean earnings: $58,170 | $34,010 | $41,720 | $54,780 | $73,080 | $90,340 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 3,830 mean earnings: $42,660 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,070 | $31,140 | $40,320 | $52,340 | $66,190 |
| Real Estate employment: 3,040 mean earnings: $42,800 | $23,920 | $31,300 | $40,630 | $52,560 | $66,160 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 370 mean earnings: $37,010 | $21,820 | $27,160 | $34,510 | $44,640 | $56,300 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 420 mean earnings: $46,520 | $28,900 | $34,130 | $43,190 | $56,400 | $71,790 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 122,260 mean earnings: $44,800 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,580 | $31,890 | $42,360 | $54,750 | $69,700 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 122,260 mean earnings: $44,800 | $24,580 | $31,890 | $42,360 | $54,750 | $69,700 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 23,270 mean earnings: $45,350 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,430 | $33,530 | $42,240 | $54,120 | $69,700 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 23,270 mean earnings: $45,350 | $27,430 | $33,530 | $42,240 | $54,120 | $69,700 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 32,460 mean earnings: $37,370 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,160 | $25,350 | $34,160 | $45,130 | $58,400 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 32,300 mean earnings: $37,320 | $20,150 | $25,320 | $34,120 | $45,070 | $58,300 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 160 mean earnings: $47,090 | $28,850 | $34,190 | $44,040 | $57,450 | $73,980 |
| Educational Services employment: 62,240 mean earnings: $39,080 (EC) (def) (IG) | $22,750 | $29,410 | $37,420 | $47,010 | $57,800 |
| Educational Services employment: 62,240 mean earnings: $39,080 | $22,750 | $29,410 | $37,420 | $47,010 | $57,800 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 20,450 mean earnings: $39,100 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,180 | $29,900 | $37,620 | $46,210 | $56,600 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 6,730 mean earnings: $37,770 | $23,180 | $28,190 | $36,690 | $44,810 | $55,060 |
| Hospitals employment: 10,740 mean earnings: $40,580 | $25,330 | $31,380 | $39,100 | $48,050 | $58,260 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 620 mean earnings: $38,490 | $24,720 | $30,430 | $37,670 | $44,620 | $54,540 |
| Social Assistance employment: 2,360 mean earnings: $36,290 | $23,540 | $27,380 | $33,800 | $43,340 | $53,690 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 2,310 mean earnings: $41,680 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,400 | $30,860 | $39,320 | $50,160 | $63,840 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 1,130 mean earnings: $44,390 | $25,340 | $32,740 | $41,800 | $53,810 | $68,890 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 530 mean earnings: $39,420 | $22,880 | $30,940 | $37,930 | $46,570 | $56,840 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 650 mean earnings: $38,830 | $24,120 | $28,520 | $35,780 | $45,950 | $57,760 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 770 mean earnings: $36,680 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,330 | $29,120 | $34,580 | $42,710 | $53,640 |
| Accommodation employment: 680 mean earnings: $36,220 | $23,560 | $28,960 | $34,360 | $42,100 | $52,400 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 90 mean earnings: $40,140 | $21,960 | $30,320 | $37,650 | $47,670 | $59,710 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 7,790 mean earnings: $41,570 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,430 | $31,290 | $39,380 | $49,770 | $60,100 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 2,340 mean earnings: $45,180 | $25,610 | $32,770 | $42,180 | $53,940 | $68,090 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 560 mean earnings: $41,130 | $23,510 | $30,440 | $38,180 | $47,470 | $61,100 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 4,890 mean earnings: $39,900 | $24,160 | $30,770 | $38,450 | $47,590 | $57,020 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 23,490 mean earnings: $42,750 (def) (IG) | $27,310 | $33,110 | $41,190 | $51,250 | $61,140 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 23,490 mean earnings: $42,750 | $27,310 | $33,110 | $41,190 | $51,250 | $61,140 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.