National Techies Day: what IT support jobs pay and their outlook

It is now Saturday, October 3, which is National Techies Day. The day is meant to celebrate the people who keep our devices and networks running and to encourage the next generation to explore fields like coding, AI, cybersecurity and robotics.

For a concrete look at one of the most common entry points into tech, the Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks computer support specialists. These are the people at the help desk who answer calls, chats and emails to fix problems, along with network support specialists who test and maintain an organization's systems. In 2025 there were about 903,100 of these jobs, with a median pay of $62,890 a year, or about $30.24 an hour.

The outlook is mixed. The agency projects employment to fall about 3% from 2025 to 2035 as companies automate more support and outsource IT. Even so, it expects about 48,700 openings each year, mostly to replace people who retire or move to other jobs. Education paths vary: some roles call for an associate's degree, while others hire people with some college or a high school diploma plus IT certifications.

If you are curious about the field, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook is a free place to compare tech jobs, pay and training paths side by side.

And if someone at work helped you recover a file or fix a frozen laptop this week, Monday is a good time to send them a quick thank-you note.