Career Details
Career Details
Back to top

Career Details

15-1232.00 - 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.


Key Facts
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
N/A
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
N/A
Estimate
Change in Employment
N/A
Estimate
Change in Employment %
N/A
Estimate
Tasks
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Answer user inquiries regarding computer software or hardware operation to resolve problems.
  • Enter commands and observe system functioning to verify correct operations and detect errors.
  • Install and perform minor repairs to hardware, software, or peripheral equipment, following design or installation specifications.
  • 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.
  • Maintain records of daily data communication transactions, problems and remedial actions taken, or installation activities.
  • Read technical manuals, confer with users, or conduct computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems or to provide technical assistance and support.
  • Confer with staff, users, and management to establish requirements for new systems or modifications.
  • Develop training materials and procedures, or train users in the proper use of hardware or software.
  • Refer major hardware or software problems or defective products to vendors or technicians for service.
  • Prepare evaluations of software or hardware, and recommend improvements or upgrades.
Supplemental
  • Read trade magazines and technical manuals, or attend conferences and seminars to maintain knowledge of hardware and software.
  • Inspect equipment and read order sheets to prepare for delivery to users.
  • Modify and customize commercial programs for internal needs.
  • Conduct office automation feasibility studies, including workflow analysis, space design, or cost comparison analysis.
  • Hire, supervise, and direct workers engaged in special project work, problem-solving, monitoring, and installation of data communication equipment and software.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 96%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 87%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 English Language
  • 78%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Telecommunications
  • 72%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 61%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 61%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Education and Training
  • 58%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Administration and Management
  • 55%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Punchdown tools
  • Wire crimpers
 Tool kits
  • Computer tool kits
 Personal communication devices
  • Multi-line telephone systems
 Media storage devices
  • Redundant array of independent disks RAID systems
  • Digital tapes
 Removable storage media
  • MS-DOS-bootable disks
 Computers
  • Notebook computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Mainframe computers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Business function specific software
  • Call center software
  • Help desk software
  • Human resource management software HRMS
  • Oracle TaleoHOT
  • ConfluenceHOT
  • Google Classroom
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementHOT
  • Slack
  • Ansible softwareHOT
  • License management software
  • Google DriveHOT
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Marketo Marketing AutomationHOT
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Fund accounting software
  • Sage 50 Accounting
  • Tax software
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareHOT
  • Microsoft DynamicsHOT
  • Microsoft Dynamics GPHOT
  • NetSuite ERPHOT
  • Oracle Fusion ApplicationsHOT
  • Oracle HyperionHOT
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOneHOT
  • Oracle PeopleSoftHOT
  • SAPHOT
  • SAP Business ObjectsHOT
  • Delphi Technology
  • Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Creative CloudHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flash
  • Adobe Systems Adobe IllustratorHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe PhotoshopHOT
  • Microsoft VisioHOT
  • SmugMug FlickrHOT
  • Trimble SketchUp ProHOT
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • Flipgrid
  • YouTubeHOT
  • 3M Post-it App
  • Google DocsHOT
  • Microsoft OneNote
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Poll Everywhere
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
  • FacebookHOT
  • Google Sites
  • Calendar and scheduling software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Distiller
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesignHOT
  • Microsoft Publisher
 Content management software
  • Atlassian JIRAHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AcrobatHOT
  • Dropbox
  • Apache Subversion SVNHOT
  • GitHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Salesforce softwareHOT
  • Apache CassandraHOT
  • Apache HadoopHOT
  • Apache HiveHOT
  • Apache PigHOT
  • Apache SolrHOT
  • ElasticsearchHOT
  • MongoDBHOT
  • NoSQLHOT
  • Oracle PL/SQLHOT
  • Relational database management softwareHOT
  • Teradata DatabaseHOT
  • Microsoft SQL Server Reporting ServicesHOT
  • SAP Crystal ReportsHOT
  • Amazon RedshiftHOT
  • Amazon Web Services AWS softwareHOT
  • Blackboard software
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Lucid IQ
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • MySQLHOT
  • Oracle JDBCHOT
  • Oracle softwareHOT
  • Software asset management SAM software
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
  • Transact-SQLHOT
  • YardiHOT
  • iPro
  • Information systems integration software
  • LexisNexis
  • CA Erwin Data Modeler
  • Hibernate ORM
  • PostgreSQLHOT
  • Apache HTTP ServerHOT
  • Customer information control system CICS
  • IBM Cognos ImpromptuHOT
  • MicroStrategyHOT
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise EditionHOT
  • Qlik Tech QlikViewHOT
  • TableauHOT
 Development software
  • Automated installation software
  • Chef
  • Configuration management software
  • Deployment software
  • Patch management software
  • Perforce Helix software
  • PuppetHOT
  • VMWareHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe ActionScript
  • Apache AntHOT
  • Apache KafkaHOT
  • Apache Maven
  • C
  • Common business oriented language COBOLHOT
  • Eclipse IDEHOT
  • Integrated development environment IDE softwareHOT
  • Microsoft .NET FrameworkHOT
  • Microsoft AzureHOT
  • Microsoft PowerShellHOT
  • Microsoft Visual BasicHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScriptHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBAHOT
  • Microsoft Visual StudioHOT
  • National Instruments LabVIEWHOT
  • RubyHOT
  • Atlassian BambooHOT
  • Extensible markup language XMLHOT
  • IBM InfoSphere DataStage
  • IBM WebSphereHOT
  • Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services SSISHOT
  • Oracle Fusion MiddlewareHOT
  • Salesforce VisualforceHOT
  • Advanced business application programming ABAPHOT
  • Apache GroovyHOT
  • C#HOT
  • C++HOT
  • Microsoft ActiveX
  • Objective CHOT
  • Oracle JavaHOT
  • Practical extraction and reporting language PerlHOT
  • PythonHOT
  • SwiftHOT
  • jQueryHOT
  • Defect tracking software
  • Hewlett Packard LoadRunner
  • JUnitHOT
  • Personal computer diagnostic software
  • Unified modeling language UMLHOT
  • AJAXHOT
  • Apache StrutsHOT
  • Apache TomcatHOT
  • Cascading Style Sheets CSSHOT
  • DjangoHOT
  • DrupalHOT
  • Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
  • Enterprise JavaBeans
  • Ext JS
  • Extensible HyperText Markup Language XHTML
  • Google AngularJSHOT
  • Hypertext markup language HTMLHOT
  • JavaScriptHOT
  • JavaScript Object Notation JSONHOT
  • LAMP Stack
  • Microsoft ASP.NETHOT
  • Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVCHOT
  • Microsoft Active Server Pages ASPHOT
  • Node.jsHOT
  • Oracle JavaServer Pages JSPHOT
  • PHP: Hypertext PreprocessorHOT
  • Ruby on RailsHOT
  • Spring FrameworkHOT
 Educational or reference software
  • Moodle
  • Schoology
  • Nearpod
  • Seesaw
 Industry specific software
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Autodesk RevitHOT
  • Bentley MicroStationHOT
  • Dassault Systemes CATIAHOT
  • Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKSHOT
  • SASHOT
  • StataCorp Stata
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareHOT
  • Epic SystemsHOT
  • MEDITECH softwareHOT
 Network applications software
  • DockerHOT
  • GitHubHOT
  • Oracle WebLogic ServerHOT
  • Red Hat WildFlyHOT
  • Spring BootHOT
  • CrossTec NetOp Remote Control
  • ParentSquare
  • Remote control software
  • Skype
  • Stac Software ReachOut
  • Symantec pcAnywhere
  • Active directory software
  • Domain name system DNS
  • Network directory services software
  • Internet browser software
 Network management software
  • Dartware InterMapper
  • NagiosHOT
  • WiresharkHOT
  • Element management software
  • SolarWinds
  • Voice over internet protocol VoiP system softwareHOT
 Networking software
  • CitrixHOT
  • Mac HelpMate
  • IBM Domino
  • Media storage management software
  • Migration software
 Operating environment software
  • Desktop partitioning software
  • Symantec Norton Utilities
  • Remote install server software
  • Apple macOSHOT
  • BashHOT
  • Cisco Systems IOS
  • Event log monitor software
  • Hewlett Packard HP-UX
  • Job control language JCL
  • KornShell
  • LinuxHOT
  • Microsoft WindowsHOT
  • Microsoft Windows Pre-installation Environment
  • Microsoft Windows ServerHOT
  • Operating system monitoring software
  • Oracle SolarisHOT
  • Red Hat Enterprise LinuxHOT
  • Shell scriptHOT
  • UNIXHOT
  • UNIX ShellHOT
  • Ubuntu
 Security and protection software
  • Password management software
  • Virtual private networking VPN softwareHOT
  • Encryption software
  • McAfee
  • SymantecHOT
  • Virus scanning software
 Utility and device driver software
  • Disaster recovery software
  • Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service
  • Symantec LiveState
  • Veritas NetBackup
 Information exchange software
  • IBM NotesHOT
  • Microsoft ExchangeHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
  • Cisco Systems Webex
  • Google Meet
  • LogMeIn GoToMeeting
  • Zoom
  • LogMeIn GoToWebinar
  • Blink
  • ESRI ArcGIS softwareHOT
  • Geographic information system GIS softwareHOT
 System management software
  • IBM Power Systems software
  • Splunk EnterpriseHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Peirce College
Jobs
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Jobs related to this career may be found on Indeed.com or on the Google Job Search page.