Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

15-1150 Computer Support Specialists

Provide technical assistance to computer users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, or 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. Excludes "Network and Computer Systems Administrators" (15-1142).

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
632,490 0.8 % $24.91 $51,820 0.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $13.93 $17.78 $22.91 $30.06 $39.03
Annual Wage (2) $28,980 $36,990 $47,660 $62,530 $81,190

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 122,990 8.20 $25.79 $53,630
Management of Companies and Enterprises 34,980 1.84 $25.25 $52,510
Elementary and Secondary Schools 34,760 0.41 $22.14 $46,040
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 29,380 4.79 $26.47 $55,050
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 28,570 1.00 $23.05 $47,950

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Software Publishers 22,060 8.32 $27.95 $58,130
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 122,990 8.20 $25.79 $53,630
Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services 16,130 6.75 $24.56 $51,080
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 29,380 4.79 $26.47 $55,050
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 7,380 4.65 $29.46 $61,280

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Investment Pools and Funds 660 1.69 $34.94 $72,670
Postal Service 270 0.04 $33.52 $69,720
Amusement Parks and Arcades 120 0.07 $32.98 $68,590
Oil and Gas Extraction 470 0.29 $31.92 $66,400
Natural Gas Distribution 410 0.38 $31.74 $66,020

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 67,880 4.84 0.98 $28.39 $59,050
Texas 54,370 5.28 1.07 $25.85 $53,770
New York 41,070 4.87 0.99 $26.80 $55,740
Florida 31,260 4.37 0.89 $21.38 $44,470
Pennsylvania 24,740 4.46 0.90 $23.30 $48,460




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 5,070 7.87 1.60 $30.81 $64,080
Colorado 16,840 7.73 1.57 $27.47 $57,140
Vermont 2,030 6.98 1.42 $23.19 $48,230
Virginia 24,190 6.81 1.38 $26.69 $55,520
Utah 7,860 6.74 1.37 $22.24 $46,260




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 5,070 7.87 1.60 $30.81 $64,080
Connecticut 8,690 5.40 1.10 $30.08 $62,570
Massachusetts 21,020 6.66 1.35 $29.27 $60,880
California 67,880 4.84 0.98 $28.39 $59,050
Colorado 16,840 7.73 1.57 $27.47 $57,140





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 26,270 5.19 1.05 $28.83 $59,970
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 20,790 9.00 1.83 $29.37 $61,080
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 17,750 7.97 1.62 $24.14 $50,220
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 16,220 7.93 1.61 $28.05 $58,350
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 16,090 4.21 0.85 $26.04 $54,150
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 15,110 4.22 0.86 $27.10 $56,370
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 14,220 8.49 1.72 $30.29 $63,000
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 13,730 5.38 1.09 $26.49 $55,100
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 11,190 6.58 1.34 $23.79 $49,490
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 10,670 7.79 1.58 $28.14 $58,530