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Boston Career Explorer

Computer and Mathematical

Computer User Support Specialists

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.

Also called: Computer Support Specialist, Computer Tech (Computer Technician), Desktop Support Technician (Desktop Support Tech), Help Desk Analyst, Help Desk Tech (Help Desk Technician), IS Tech (Information Systems Technician)

Median pay in Greater Boston
$77,850
$37.43/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
13,580
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−5.8%
1,050 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Some college, no degree
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$49,990$61,620$77,850$94,380$107,110

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Oversee the daily performance of computer systems.
  • Set up equipment for employee use, performing or ensuring proper installation of cables, operating systems, or appropriate software.
  • Read technical manuals, confer with users, or conduct computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems or to provide technical assistance and support.
  • Answer user inquiries regarding computer software or hardware operation to resolve problems.
  • Install and perform minor repairs to hardware, software, or peripheral equipment, following design or installation specifications.
  • Confer with staff, users, and management to establish requirements for new systems or modifications.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure69 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 54
  • Language-model AIOE 55
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 97

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure is higher for this job, and observed AI use is substantial. AI tools can answer common questions and walk users through fixes, which is why federal projections show fewer of these jobs, with Massachusetts expected to shrink 5.8%. Setting up equipment, installing hardware, and working with users in person rely more on people.

Likely to change

  • Answering common software and hardware questions
  • Walking users through standard troubleshooting steps

Still relies on people

  • Setting up and installing equipment in person
  • Working with frustrated users face to face

What federal projections say

“Sourcing change, capital/labor substitution - share decreases as more businesses offshore their computer user support or solve computer troubleshooting needs using generative artificial intelligence (AI).”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

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    Installing equipment and connecting wiring builds on your setup and hardware skills. The work has lower AI exposure and pays $78,560.

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

3 programs near Boston

Related occupations

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