IT support technician
Be the person who fixes it: solve hardware, software and network problems for computer users, in person and remotely.
- Salary£24,000 – £36,000
- Hours35 to 40 hours a week (variable), which may include evening and weekend shifts
- Working for yourselfSelf-employment is possible
What the job is like
IT support technicians (also known as help desk or service desk technicians) keep people's computers, accounts and networks working. You'll log problems, work out what's gone wrong, fix it or pass it to the right team, and set up new equipment and software.
It's a natural next step if you're the one friends ask to sort out their laptop or you enjoy building PCs. Patience and clear explanations matter as much as technical knowledge, and there are plenty of routes in - from T Levels and apprenticeships to starting as a trainee and earning industry certificates such as CompTIA A+.
What you'll do
- Respond to requests for IT help by phone, chat, email or in person
- Record each issue on a ticket tracking system
- Diagnose and fix faults, or assign them to the right team
- Install new IT systems and upgrade existing ones
- Set up and manage user accounts and security
- Maintain printers, projectors and cabling
- Update the knowledge base staff use to solve common problems
- Show people how to use new software, face-to-face and online
Where you'll work
- Indoors
- Office
- In a team
- On your own
Skills and hobbies that help
Weighted by how much they matter in this job, from the official job profile's skills and tasks. Tap one to see other careers that use it.
Key skills
Used a lot
Handy to have
Hobbies that give you a head start
How to become an IT support technician
Apprenticeship
Level 3 advanced apprenticeships such as IT solutions technician (Level 3, typically around 18 months), Digital support technician (Level 3, typically around 15 months), Information communications technician (Level 3, typically around 18 months) or Cyber security technician (Level 3, typically around 18 months). The Hardware, Network and Infrastructure Level 2 foundation apprenticeship can lead to a junior role.
College
Courses in computing, IT support or ICT systems, or the T Level in Digital Support and Security.
Skills Bootcamp
Free Skills Bootcamps for adults aged 19 and over run in digital subjects and last up to 16 weeks - check the National Careers Service course finder for IT courses near you.
University
A foundation degree, HND or degree in computer science, network engineering, network security, software engineering or business information systems.
Other ways in
Start as a trainee technician and study for IT support qualifications while you work. Some IT knowledge and good customer service skills help you get a trainee post.
Qualifications, licences and cards
- Industry certificates such as CompTIA A+ and Microsoft Learn training can help (optional but valued)
Where it can lead
- Senior IT support technician
- IT project manager or departmental manager
- Network engineer, database administrator, systems analyst or IT security co-ordinator
- Freelance IT contractor or consultant
Good to know
- You could work in an office, at client businesses or in a contact centre.
- Some roles involve shift work covering evenings and weekends.
Courses and training
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Skills Bootcamp
Skills Bootcamps – Skills for Careers (Department for Education)
Free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for adults aged 19 or over in England, ending with a guaranteed job interview. Subjects include construction, engineering, heat pump technology and HGV driving.
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Certification
CompTIA A+ – CompTIA
An industry certificate for people starting in IT support. Optional, but valued by employers.
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Online learning
Microsoft Learn – Microsoft
Microsoft's own online training modules and learning paths, useful for building IT support skills alongside a course or job.
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Apprenticeship search
Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK
The official GOV.UK service for searching and applying for apprenticeship vacancies in England.
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Course search
Find a course – National Careers Service
The National Careers Service search for college and training provider courses in England, including Skills Bootcamps.
Official information
- National Careers Service: IT support technician
- IT solutions technician apprenticeship
- Digital support technician apprenticeship
- Information communications technician apprenticeship
- Cyber security technician apprenticeship
- CompTIA A+
- Microsoft Learn
- BCS: get into tech
- techskills: tech careers
- Skills Bootcamps
- T Levels
Sources
We checked these pages in September 2026. Rules, pay and courses change, so always confirm with the official source.
- National Careers Service: IT support technician job profile nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/it-support-technician
- Skills England apprenticeship standard: IT solutions technician skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0505-v1-1
- Skills England apprenticeship standard: Digital support technician skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0120-v1-1
- Skills England apprenticeship standard: Information communications technician skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0973-v1-2
- Skills England apprenticeship standard: Cyber security technician skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0865-v1-1
- Skills Bootcamps (Skills for Careers) skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/training-choice/skills-bootcamp