P.O. Box 1784
Austin, TX 78767
512.457.8610
www.capitalidea.org
USER AND COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALIST
Do you like to solve puzzles? Computer Support Specialists help people use their
computers, not just better, but also more efficiently. Every day, people who use
computers have trouble with simple questions like, “How do I print?” or with more
complicated challenges like “Why is my computer not turning on?” Computer Support Specialists are
helpful heroes – they solve challenging problems on a day-to-day basis, working with people to figure
out their computer issues so that they can get back to work fast.
EDUCATION
Minimum requirement: Associate Degree
Capital IDEA sponsors the Associate of Applied Science degree in Information Technology - User
and Computer Support Specialization at Austin Community College. Outside of this targeted IT Tech
effort we sponsor additional specializations within the department. For more information visit:
http://cis.austincc.edu/
On-going: expect to be a lifelong learner
An Associate Degree will get you started in this career. Additional training including a Bachelor’s
Degree or certifications will help you grow in the profession and keep your technical skills relevant.
JOB MARKET
Expected growth: steady increase
Employment of computer support specialists is projected to grow 17 percent from 2012 to 2022,
faster than the average for all occupations. More support services will be needed as organizations
upgrade their computer equipment and software.
SALARY
What to expect: modest to good starting salary | good growth with experience and skill
The median annual wage for computer network support specialists was $59,090 in May 2012. Half
of the workers in this occupation earned more than $59,090 and half earned less. The lowest 10
percent earned less than $34,930, and the top 10 percent earned more than $96,850. Entry-level
salaries in Austin generally start around $13.00 per hour.
EMPLOYERS IN AUSTIN
Computer Companies, Cloud Computing Companies, Data Centers and City/County Facilities.
The data in this document was obtained from websites belonging to the U.S. Department of Bureau of Labor Statistics, Austin Community College
and Salary.com.
LOCATIONS:
CAPITAL IDEA at LifeWorks
CAPITAL IDEA at ACC Highland
CAPITAL IDEA Round Rock
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www.capitalidea.org
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Communication
▪ Listening
▪ Speaking and
writing clearly
Time
Management
▪ Organized
▪ Efficient
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Critical Thinking
Teamwork
▪ Curiosity
▪ Ask questions
▪ Creative solutions
▪ Collaborative
▪ Respectful
▪ Flexible
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Austin is the No. 1 city in America
for overall tech job creation.
New jobs in the field of information
technology (IT) promise good
wages and a career path that
rewards hard work and
experience. An Associate Degree
gets you started and as you gain
more experience and training,
your salary keeps growing.
M #1
It’s all math and science.
You will study some math and science in
all Tech Careers, but once you’ve learned
the basic concepts, you will move on to
hands on practice, learning processes,
and developing your critical thinking skills.
M #2
You always work alone.
In reality, the majority of IT jobs involve a
great deal of interaction. In some positions
you may work alone for most of the day, in
others you’ll be constantly interacting with
co-workers, customers or the public.
These days everyone needs an
IT person. Depending on your
specialization you could work
any number of places:
▪ Big and small tech companies
▪ City or government offices
▪ Engineering and manufacturing
companies
▪ Public schools or libraries
▪ Banks, hospitals or nonprofits
M #3
You’ll start at six-figures.
Starting salaries for most IT careers are in
the $14 - $17 an hour range. However, the
harder you work to gain experience and
new skills, the higher and faster your salary
will grow – up to six-figures in some fields.