How Much Does an It Help Desk Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$61,860
IT help desk technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $61,860 a year, or $29.74 an hour. Half of IT help desk technicians earn more than $61,860 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $100,540.
Pay percentiles for IT help desk technicians
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $19.70 | $40,980 |
| 25th | $23.56 | $49,000 |
| 50th (median) | $29.74 | $61,860 |
| 75th | $38.00 | $79,040 |
| 90th | $48.34 | $100,540 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Computer User Support Specialists (SOC 15-1232). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for IT help desk technicians
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $80,950 | $38.92 | +31% |
| California | $79,570 | $38.25 | +29% |
| Washington | $75,220 | $36.17 | +22% |
| Massachusetts | $75,070 | $36.09 | +21% |
| New York | $72,560 | $34.89 | +17% |
| Colorado | $71,900 | $34.57 | +16% |
| Connecticut | $70,210 | $33.76 | +13% |
| Wyoming | $65,100 | $31.30 | +5% |
| Virginia | $65,040 | $31.27 | +5% |
| Maryland | $64,750 | $31.13 | +5% |
| United States | $61,860 | $29.74 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many IT help desk technicians are there?
BLS counts about 717,190 IT help desk technicians employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Computer User Support Specialists”. The most jobs are in California (74,490), Texas (72,030) and Florida (51,220).
The mean (average) annual wage is $67,330, higher than the median of $61,860.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,155
- Biweekly
- $2,379
- Weekly
- $1,190
- Daily (8 hours)
- $238
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do IT help desk technicians make an hour?
The median hourly wage for IT help desk technicians is $29.74. The middle 50% earn between $23.56 and $38.00 an hour.
Which state pays IT help desk technicians the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for IT help desk technicians at $80,950, +31% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for IT help desk technicians?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of IT help desk technicians earn less than $40,980 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.