Technology
A desktop support technician sets up, maintains and repairs employee computers, peripherals and software in person or remotely. The role matters because staff cannot work productively when laptops, accounts or office equipment fail.
Median pay
$62,890a year
Computer support specialists, U.S. BLS, May 2025
The role
Companies hire one for office openings, hardware refresh projects, onboarding waves or when the help desk needs on-site hands to resolve issues.
Typical responsibilities
Core skills
Tools and systems
Related titles
Typical background
Typically 1 to 3 years in IT support, with an associate degree or CompTIA A+ certification preferred.
At a glance
The essentials for planning the hire: level, background, how you can hire and what the role typically pays.
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FAQ
Straight answers to the questions employers and candidates ask about this role.
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A desktop support technician sets up, maintains and repairs employee computers, peripherals and software in person or remotely. The role matters because staff cannot work productively when laptops, accounts or office equipment fail. Typical responsibilities include: set up and configure new laptops, desktops and peripherals; troubleshoot hardware, software and connectivity problems for employees; install software and apply updates and security patches.
Look for hardware troubleshooting, windows support, macOS support, active Directory, customer service and asset tracking. Experience with Windows 11, Active Directory, Microsoft Intune, Jamf and ServiceNow is common in this role.
Yes. A desktop support technician is one of the roles employers most often hire on contract, for projects, busy periods, leave cover and vacancies. Contract-to-hire is also an option if you want to work together before making a permanent offer.
They overlap but differ. Help desk usually handles requests by phone, chat or ticket and fixes issues remotely. Desktop support handles hands-on work such as device setup, repairs and on-site visits. Smaller companies often combine them in one role.
Yes. Contract technicians are common for office moves, laptop refreshes, operating system upgrades and onboarding surges. Define the number of devices, locations and tools involved upfront so candidates can be matched to the workload and the term.
Related roles
Every role in the practice is recruited by the same specialist team.
