The job postings look promising. “Entry-level IT support, $50K, no experience required.” You apply to fifty of them. Radio silence. What gives?

Here’s what the job postings don’t tell you: the IT support job market in 2026 has changed. Companies still need help desk technicians—roughly 725,000 computer support jobs exist—but hiring has shifted. Understanding this shift is the difference between landing a job in weeks versus months of frustrating silence.

This isn’t another generic “get certifications and apply” guide. We’re breaking down what’s actually happening with IT support hiring in 2026 and giving you specific strategies to stand out in a market that’s simultaneously desperate for talent and increasingly picky about who they hire.

Why IT Support Jobs Are Harder to Get (Despite High Demand)

Companies complain about talent shortages. Candidates complain about endless rejections. Both sides are frustrated. Here’s what’s driving this disconnect.

The “Entry-Level Experience” Paradox

Roles labeled “junior” now often require 2 to 5 years of experience. According to Deloitte, nearly 66% of hiring managers believe new hires aren’t fully job-ready. This creates a frustrating loop: you can’t get experience without a job, but you can’t get a job without experience.

The reason? AI automation has eliminated some of the lowest-level work that used to train new hires. Password resets, basic account provisioning, routine troubleshooting—tasks that once gave entry-level techs room to learn are increasingly handled by automated systems. Companies now expect new hires to start at a higher skill level.

AI’s Impact on Entry-Level Hiring

The 2025 IDC Employee Experience Survey shows that 66% of enterprises are reducing entry-level hiring as they deploy AI, and 91% report roles being changed or partially automated. IT support jobs aren’t disappearing. The nature of entry-level work is just evolving.

What this means for you: organizations expect candidates to have basic prompt engineering skills, even for entry-level IT roles. Knowing how to use AI tools to troubleshoot faster isn’t a bonus anymore. It’s expected.

The Resume Black Hole

You’re not imagining it. Most resumes never get seen by humans. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) filter out candidates before a hiring manager ever reviews them. A polished resume with the wrong keywords or formatting gets rejected instantly.

But here’s the counterintuitive truth: a candidate with no paid experience but three completed cloud labs and a small deployment project often performs better in the hiring process than someone listing vague “cloud exposure” with no proof.

What IT Support Actually Pays in 2026

Let’s cut through the noise with real salary data. These numbers come from aggregated job data, not inflated recruiter promises.

Entry-Level IT Support Salaries

RoleSalary RangeHourly Rate
Entry-Level Help Desk$35,000 - $52,000$17 - $25
Help Desk Technician (1-2 years)$48,000 - $65,000$23 - $31
Desktop Support Specialist$52,000 - $72,000$25 - $35
IT Support Specialist$55,000 - $75,000$26 - $36

Source: ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, PayScale

The average help desk technician salary sits at $51,548 annually, though Glassdoor reports higher averages around $64,085 when factoring in bonuses and additional compensation. Location matters. New York City help desk techs earn about 3% above national average, while tech hubs like Seattle and San Francisco can push 15-20% higher.

Industries That Pay Above Average

Not all IT support jobs pay equally. If you’re optimizing for salary, target these sectors:

  • Aerospace & Defense: Median $69,818
  • Pharmaceutical & Biotech: Median $62,739
  • Legal: Median $60,948
  • Government & Public Administration: Median $56,881

Financial services and healthcare also pay premiums for IT support staff, particularly those with compliance knowledge (HIPAA, SOX, etc.).

Where to Actually Find IT Support Jobs

Stop spray-and-praying on Indeed. Here’s a more strategic approach.

General Job Boards (Use Strategically)

  • Indeed - Largest volume, but also most competition. Set specific alerts rather than browsing.
  • LinkedIn - Better for getting noticed by recruiters. Optimize your profile before applying.
  • ZipRecruiter - Good for local positions and smaller companies.

Tech-Specific Job Boards

  • Dice - One of the largest tech-focused job boards with better filtering for IT roles.
  • Built In - Strong for tech companies and startups. Good for finding companies with growth potential.
  • Robert Half Technology - Staffing agency that also lists exclusive positions not available elsewhere.

Often-Overlooked Sources

Company Career Pages: Many companies, especially mid-size ones, post positions on their websites before job boards. Identify 20-30 companies you’d want to work for and check their career pages weekly.

Managed Service Providers (MSPs): These companies provide IT support to multiple clients and constantly need technicians. They’re also more willing to hire less experienced candidates because they provide training. Search “[your city] managed service provider careers” or “[your city] MSP jobs.”

Local Government: County and city IT departments hire regularly, often value certifications over experience, and provide stable employment with benefits. Check your local government’s job board directly.

Certification-Based Job Access

Some certifications unlock access to exclusive job boards:

This is one reason certifications matter beyond skill validation. They can unlock job opportunities invisible to non-certified candidates.

The Three IT Support Roles You Should Target

Not all entry-level IT jobs are created equal. Here are the three most accessible roles for 2026 and what each requires.

Help Desk Tier 1 Technician

What you do: First point of contact for user issues. Password resets, basic troubleshooting, ticket management, warm transfers to higher tiers.

Requirements: Customer service experience, basic technical understanding, and willingness to learn. Many employers consider candidates with retail, restaurant, or call center backgrounds.

Entry salary: $35,000 - $48,000

Best for: People transitioning from customer service roles, those who want to get their foot in the door quickly.

This is genuinely the most accessible IT role. If you have any customer-facing experience and can demonstrate basic tech aptitude, you’re a candidate. The key differentiator is attitude and communication skills, not deep technical knowledge.

Desktop Support Technician

What you do: Hands-on hardware and software support. Installing software, configuring workstations, replacing components, managing local network connections.

Requirements: CompTIA A+ strongly preferred. Ability to troubleshoot hardware and software issues independently.

Entry salary: $45,000 - $55,000

Best for: People who enjoy hands-on work, those who’ve built their own computers or done informal tech support for friends and family.

Desktop support has more technical requirements but also pays better and provides more variety than pure help desk work. If you’re the person everyone asks to fix their computer, this role formalizes that skill.

IT Support Specialist

What you do: Broader support role that might include help desk duties, desktop support, and some systems administration tasks. Often involves working with multiple technologies.

Requirements: CompTIA A+, some exposure to networking concepts, familiarity with Active Directory or similar directory services.

Entry salary: $48,000 - $58,000

Best for: Generalists who want exposure to multiple areas before specializing.

This hybrid role is increasingly common at small to mid-size companies where the IT department doesn’t have room for highly specialized roles. You’ll learn a lot, though the breadth of responsibilities can be demanding.

What Actually Gets You Hired

Forget the generic advice. Here’s what’s working in 2026.

Build a Portfolio, Not Just a Resume

A candidate with documented hands-on experience consistently beats one with only certifications and a polished resume. Here’s what to build:

Home lab projects: Set up a home lab with VirtualBox or Proxmox. Document your process. Show you can install Windows Server, configure Active Directory, set up Group Policy, and troubleshoot common issues.

GitHub presence: Even for IT support, having a GitHub shows technical capability. Upload PowerShell scripts you’ve written, Bash automation, or documentation for projects you’ve completed.

Interactive practice: Platforms like Shell Samurai let you practice Linux command line and troubleshooting skills in a structured environment. Completing challenges demonstrates ability better than listing “Linux experience” on a resume.

Certifications That Actually Matter

For IT support specifically, prioritize in this order:

  1. Google IT Support Professional Certificate: Best for true beginners. Completes in about 6 months, costs around $234 on Coursera, and unlocks access to exclusive job listings. No prerequisites.

  2. CompTIA A+: The industry standard for IT support. More rigorous than Google’s certificate but also more respected by hiring managers. Two exams covering hardware, software, networking basics, and troubleshooting. Check out our CompTIA A+ study plan for a realistic timeline.

  3. CompTIA Network+ or CCNA: Not required for most entry-level IT support jobs, but differentiates you from other candidates if you’re targeting desktop support or IT specialist roles. Review our Network+ vs CCNA comparison to decide which fits your goals.

Don’t stack five certifications before applying anywhere. One or two relevant certifications plus demonstrated hands-on skills beats a wall of cert logos with no practical experience.

Soft Skills Carry More Weight Than You Think

As one career success coach put it: “Soft skills now carry as much weight as technical skills.”

IT support is a customer service role that happens to involve technology. You’re troubleshooting computers, but you’re serving people who are frustrated, confused, or under deadline pressure. The ability to communicate clearly, stay patient, and explain technical concepts in plain language separates good technicians from great ones.

In interviews, demonstrate:

  • Communication clarity: Can you explain a technical concept without jargon?
  • Problem-solving approach: How do you systematically diagnose an issue?
  • Customer empathy: How do you handle frustrated users?

Check out our guide on soft skills for technical roles for specific techniques.

Career Progression: Where IT Support Takes You

IT support isn’t a dead end. It’s a launching pad. Here’s how careers typically progress:

The Standard Progression Path

Year 1-2: Help Desk Tier 1 ($35K-$52K) Basic troubleshooting, ticket management, user support

Year 2-4: Help Desk Tier 2 or Desktop Support ($48K-$68K) More complex issues, some project work, possible specialization beginning

Year 4-6: IT Support Specialist or Junior Sysadmin ($55K-$78K) Broader responsibilities, systems exposure, potential team lead duties

Year 6+: Senior positions, management, or specialization ($75K-$120K+) Options include Senior Systems Administrator, Network Engineer, IT Manager, or specialized paths

Specialization Branches

From IT support, you can branch into:

The skills you build in IT support transfer directly to these roles: troubleshooting methodology, systems thinking, customer communication. IT support is arguably the best foundation for any technology career because it exposes you to so many different technologies and scenarios.

For detailed transition guidance, see our articles on moving from help desk to sysadmin or IT support to cybersecurity.

Job Search Strategy That Works

Stop applying to 100 jobs with the same generic resume. Here’s a more effective approach.

Week 1-2: Foundation Building

Get your certifications in order. If you have CompTIA A+ or Google IT Support certificate, great. If not, start the Google IT Support certificate immediately—you can complete significant progress in two weeks of focused effort.

Build one demonstrable project. Set up a home lab, document it, put it on GitHub. This alone differentiates you from 80% of applicants.

Create a base resume. Include your project, any certifications in progress, and relevant experience (even customer service counts). See our IT resume guide for templates.

Week 2-4: Targeted Applications

Identify 20-30 target companies. Look for:

  • Local MSPs (search “[your city] managed service provider”)
  • Mid-size companies with internal IT departments
  • Healthcare organizations (always hiring, stable)
  • Local government IT departments

Customize each application. Use keywords from the job posting. Reference the specific company. Show you researched them.

Apply through multiple channels. Apply on the company website AND LinkedIn. Follow up with a connection request to the hiring manager or IT director.

Week 4+: Expand and Follow Up

Expand to job boards. Now add Indeed, Dice, and ZipRecruiter alerts for IT support roles within your target geographic area.

Follow up on applications. One week after applying, send a brief email reiterating interest. Many positions receive hundreds of applications. Polite persistence helps.

Network actively. Join local IT meetups or online communities. Many positions get filled through referrals before they’re ever posted publicly.

Red Flags When Job Hunting

Not every IT support job is worth taking. Watch for these warning signs.

Unrealistic Requirements

“Entry-level, 5 years experience required, 15 certifications preferred.” If the requirements don’t match the title and salary, the company doesn’t know what they need or is trying to underpay for experienced talent. Skip these.

Too Good to Be True

Remote IT support jobs promising $30+/hour for entry-level work with no specific skills should trigger skepticism. Research the company thoroughly. Check if the job exists on their official website. Call the company directly to verify the posting.

Signs of a Toxic Environment

During interviews, ask about:

  • On-call expectations and compensation
  • Ticket volume per technician
  • Turnover rate in the IT department
  • Training and development support

High turnover, unpaid on-call, and 100+ tickets per day per person are warning signs of a burnout factory. For more on identifying unsustainable IT environments, see our guide on work-life balance in IT jobs.

FAQ

Do I need a degree for IT support jobs?

No. Most IT support positions don’t require a degree. Employers care more about certifications, demonstrated skills, and customer service experience. A degree helps but isn’t a barrier to entry.

Which certification should I get first?

For pure beginners, start with the Google IT Support Professional Certificate—it’s accessible and unlocks job board access. Follow up with CompTIA A+ for broader industry recognition. See our IT certification decision guide for a personalized approach.

How long does it take to get an IT support job?

With focused effort (certifications, portfolio building, strategic applications), most candidates land their first IT support role within 2-4 months. Without direction, job searches commonly extend 6+ months.

Can I get a remote IT support job?

Yes, but they’re more competitive. About 13% of IT/tech roles are fully remote, with another 29% hybrid. Entry-level remote positions exist but receive significantly more applications than local roles. Consider starting local and transitioning to remote after gaining experience.

What’s the difference between help desk and IT support?

Help desk specifically refers to Tier 1 support—first contact, basic troubleshooting, ticket routing. IT support is a broader term that can include help desk, desktop support, field technician work, and junior systems administration. All help desk jobs are IT support jobs, but not all IT support jobs are help desk.

What to Do Next

The IT support job market in 2026 rewards preparation over persistence. Random applications to every posting you see won’t work. Strategic skill building plus targeted applications will.

Start here:

  1. If you don’t have certifications, begin the Google IT Support Certificate today
  2. Set up a basic home lab and document what you build
  3. Practice command line fundamentals until they’re second nature
  4. Identify 20 target companies and apply strategically

The demand for IT support professionals remains strong. 87% of technology leaders plan to hire in 2026. Companies need people who can solve problems, communicate clearly, and keep learning. Demonstrate those qualities, and you’ll find your way in.