Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Computer User Support Specialists
Occupation · SOC 15-1232.00
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) · IS Tech (Information Systems Technician) · IT Specialist (Information Technology Specialist) · Desktop Support Technician (Desktop Support Tech) · Help Desk Analyst · Help Desk Tech (Help Desk Technician) · IT Support Specialist (Information Technology Support Specialist) · IT Tech (Information Technology Technician) · Technical Support Specialist · Application Customer Service Representative (Application CSR) · Application Support Engineer
Job family: Computer and Mathematical Occupations
Take this to your AI
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/roles/role-15-1232-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- Declining employment outlook (-3.7% by 2034)
- 40,800 openings/yr
- High AI exposure
- Median pay $60,340/yr
80th-percentile task overlap — yet about 40,800 openings a year (-3.7% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Moderate | 62nd | 0.8 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) High | 95th | 0.3 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.4), with simple added tooling (β 0.6), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.8). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
How AI is actually used in this job
Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.
| Install and perform minor repairs to hardware, software, or peripheral equipment, following design or installation specifications. | 2.9% | |
| Modify and customize commercial programs for internal needs. | 2.6% | |
| Set up equipment for employee use, performing or ensuring proper installation of cables, operating systems, or appropriate software. | 2.5% | |
| Answer user inquiries regarding computer software or hardware operation to resolve problems. | 1.5% | |
| Prepare evaluations of software or hardware, and recommend improvements or upgrades. | 1.3% | |
| Read technical manuals, confer with users, or conduct computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems or to provide technical assistance and support. | 1.0% |
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | Declining · -3.7% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 40,800 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 729,500 → 702,500 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Tasks
All 16 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Oversee the daily performance of computer systems. Core · importance 4.0
- Read technical manuals, confer with users, or conduct computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems or to provide technical assistance and support. Core · importance 3.9
- Set up equipment for employee use, performing or ensuring proper installation of cables, operating systems, or appropriate software. Core · importance 3.9
- Answer user inquiries regarding computer software or hardware operation to resolve problems. Core · importance 3.8
- Install and perform minor repairs to hardware, software, or peripheral equipment, following design or installation specifications. Core · importance 3.8
- Confer with staff, users, and management to establish requirements for new systems or modifications. Core · importance 3.7
- Enter commands and observe system functioning to verify correct operations and detect errors. Core · importance 3.6
- Maintain records of daily data communication transactions, problems and remedial actions taken, or installation activities. Core · importance 3.5
- Refer major hardware or software problems or defective products to vendors or technicians for service. Core · importance 3.4
- Prepare evaluations of software or hardware, and recommend improvements or upgrades. Core · importance 3.4
- Develop training materials and procedures, or train users in the proper use of hardware or software. Core · importance 3.3
- Inspect equipment and read order sheets to prepare for delivery to users. Supplemental · importance 3.2
- Conduct office automation feasibility studies, including workflow analysis, space design, or cost comparison analysis. Supplemental · importance 3.2
- Read trade magazines and technical manuals, or attend conferences and seminars to maintain knowledge of hardware and software. Supplemental · importance 3.0
- Hire, supervise, and direct workers engaged in special project work, problem-solving, monitoring, and installation of data communication equipment and software. Supplemental · importance 2.9
- Modify and customize commercial programs for internal needs. Supplemental · importance 2.9
Work activities
- Provide technical support for software maintenance or use.
- Test software performance.
- Install computer software.
- Install computer hardware.
- Maintain computer hardware.
- Monitor computer system performance to ensure proper operation.
- Document operational activities.
- Read documents to gather technical information.
- Resolve computer software problems.
- Collaborate with others to resolve information technology issues.
- Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
- Teach others to use computer equipment or hardware.
- Train others in computer interface or software use.
- Evaluate utility of software or hardware technologies.
- Provide recommendations to others about computer hardware.
- Recommend changes to improve computer or information systems.
- Update knowledge about emerging industry or technology trends.
- Test computer hardware performance.
- Modify software programs to improve performance.
- Conduct research to gain information about products or processes.
- Supervise information technology personnel.
- Participate in staffing decisions.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
Essential skills
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Speaking | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 | |
| Writing | 3.5 | |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 | |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
Abilities
| Oral Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Written Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Oral Expression | 4.0 | |
| Written Expression | 3.9 | |
| Near Vision | 3.9 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.6 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.6 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.6 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.6 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.6 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.4 | |
| Fluency of Ideas | 3.1 |
Transferable skills
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 | |
| Instructing | 3.0 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 | |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 | |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 | |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Showing the top 40 of 119.
Tools & technology
Showing the top 40 of 258.
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Typical entry-level education
- Some college, no degree · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Preparation level
- SVP (6.0 to < 7.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences , Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services , Health Professions and Related Programs . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 13.7% | |
| First Professional Degree | 4.0% | |
| Some College Courses | 1.9% | |
| High School Diploma | 0.3% | |
| Master's Degree | 0.3% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Interest areas
| Information Technology | 6.3 | |
| Mechanics/Electronics | 4.0 | |
| Office Work | 3.6 | |
| Engineering | 2.6 | |
| Teaching/Education | 2.5 | |
| Personal Service | 2.4 | |
| Management/Administration | 2.2 | |
| Professional Advising | 1.9 |
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Conventional | 6.0 | |
| Realistic | 4.1 | |
| Investigative | 3.8 | |
| Social | 3.3 | |
| Enterprising | 2.4 |
Work styles
| Dependability | 2.4 | |
| Attention to Detail | 2.3 | |
| Cooperation | 2.0 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $38,780 |
| 25th percentile | $47,580 |
| Median (50th) | $60,340 |
| 75th percentile | $77,010 |
| 90th percentile | $98,010 |
| People employed | 697,210 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 210,440 | $59,950 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 80,880 | $56,240 |
| Information · Sector | 66,680 | $63,080 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 57,450 | $49,900 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 45,590 | $60,980 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 37,660 | $62,370 |
| Finance and Insurance · Sector | 37,300 | $62,420 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 35,010 | $58,220 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 30,190 | $64,120 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 28,480 | $48,820 |
| Retail Trade · Sector | 12,630 | $52,660 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 9,250 | $55,680 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Information · Sector | 5.07× | 66,680 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 4.32× | 210,440 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 2.96× | 37,660 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 2.38× | 28,480 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 1.67× | 45,590 |
| Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers · National industry | 1.51× | 3,070 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 1.5× | 7,860 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 1.41× | 57,450 |
Related occupations
Part of the Digital Technology and Healthcare & Human Services career clusters.
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Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Computer User Support Specialists — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- Some college, no degree · typical entry level
- Job zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences · field of study
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services · field of study
Zoom out
See where this work sits in the bigger picture.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Computer User Support Specialists show 80th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 40,800 annual U.S. openings
- Computer User Support Specialists rank in the 80th percentile (High band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 40,800 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be declining (-3.7%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $60,340, across about 697,210 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Computer User Support Specialists show 80th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 40,800 annual U.S. openings • Computer User Support Specialists rank in the 80th percentile (High band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 40,800 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be declining (-3.7%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $60,340, across about 697,210 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Computer User Support Specialists". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1232-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Computer User Support Specialists." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1232-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Computer User Support Specialists. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1232-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-15-1232-00,
title = {Computer User Support Specialists},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1232-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.