---
title: "IT Support Specialist: CompTIA A+ and How to Start"
description: "How to become an IT support specialist: the CompTIA A+ certification, help desk work, May 2025 BLS pay and an honest look at the outlook."
url: https://careerdirecting.com/careers/it-support-specialist/
updated: 2026-10-09
site: CareerDirecting
---

Tech · IT support

# IT support specialist The help desk is the front door to tech.

Tech career profile

IT support specialists fix computers, reset passwords, set up equipment and help frustrated users. Many people start here with a certification like CompTIA A+ and move up into networking or security.

In short

Many IT support specialists start with some college or a certificate and an entry certification like CompTIA A+, which covers hardware, operating systems and troubleshooting. Computer user support specialists earned a median of $61,860 in May 2025. BLS projects a decline of 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, but still about 39,700 openings a year from turnover.

**Job numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics** Updated October 9, 2026. Pay figures are national medians and are not a promise of what you will earn.

**On this page**

1. [ The honest outlook](#s-the-honest-outlook)
2. [What the work involves](#s-what-the-work-involves)
3. [How to start](#s-how-to-start)
4. [Questions people ask](#s-faq)

| Median pay | $61,860 a year, about $29.74 an hour (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Typical way in | Some college, plus moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Jobs in the U.S. | About 750,600 (2025) |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | Projected a decline of 3.5% |
| Openings each year | About 39,700 on average, including replacements |
| Common entry certification | [CompTIA A+](https://www.comptia.org/certifications/a) |
| Where they work | Company IT departments, schools, managed service providers |

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035 and May 2025 wages, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm). National figures; pay where you live can be higher or lower, and starting pay is lower than the median.

## The honest outlook

BLS projects total employment in this job to shrink slightly over the decade as tools automate simple fixes. Openings still come up as people move up or out. Treat help desk as a starting point and plan your next step, like networking, systems or [cybersecurity](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/cybersecurity/).

## What the work involves

Answering tickets, walking users through fixes, imaging laptops, setting up accounts, and documenting what you did. Patience with non-technical people is as important as tech skill.

## How to start

Study for A+ through a community college course, a training program or self-study, then apply for help desk roles. A home lab where you build and fix machines is great practice and something to talk about in interviews.

## Questions people ask

### Can I get an IT job with just CompTIA A+?

Many entry help desk jobs ask for A+ or similar, plus good communication.

### Is IT support a dead end?

Not if you keep learning. It is a common first step toward higher-paid IT roles.

### Do I need a degree for IT support?

BLS lists some college as typical, but many employers hire on certifications and skills.

## Sources

- [BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035, Table 1.2 (occupational projections and worker characteristics)](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm)
- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Computer user support specialists](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-support-specialists.htm)
- [CompTIA A+ certification](https://www.comptia.org/certifications/a)

## Where to go next

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- [IT support vs cybersecurity](https://careerdirecting.com/compare/it-support-vs-cybersecurity/)
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