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.
717,190 people do this job in the US. $61,860 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 62%
- 14%
- 24%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 2%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 37%. Today's estimate: 42%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 16 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read technical manuals, confer with users, or conduct computer diagnostics to investigate and resolve problems or to provide technical assistance and support.Done several times a day by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 15% | 50 min17 min to 2.5 h | 87%Half by now | |
| Set up equipment for employee use, performing or ensuring proper installation of cables, operating systems, or appropriate software.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 13% | 1.3 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Confer with staff, users, and management to establish requirements for new systems or modifications.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 9% | 1.3 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Prepare evaluations of software or hardware, and recommend improvements or upgrades.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 8% | 3.3 h1.7 h to 6.7 h | 49%Half by now | |
| Install and perform minor repairs to hardware, software, or peripheral equipment, following design or installation specifications.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 8% | 50 min17 min to 1.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Develop training materials and procedures, or train users in the proper use of hardware or software.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 7% | 3.3 h1.3 h to 1 work day | 36%Half by Dec 2026 | |
| Oversee the daily performance of computer systems.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 25 min13 min to 1.3 h | 100%Half by now | |
| Maintain records of daily data communication transactions, problems and remedial actions taken, or installation activities.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 25 min8 min to 50 min | 100%Half by now | |
| Modify and customize commercial programs for internal needs.Done more than yearly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 6% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.3 work days | 19%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Answer user inquiries regarding computer software or hardware operation to resolve problems.Done hourly or more by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 5% | 13 min4 min to 38 min | 99%Half by now | |
| Hire, supervise, and direct workers engaged in special project work, problem-solving, monitoring, and installation of data communication equipment and software.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 5% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 4.2 work days | Stays with people | |
| Conduct office automation feasibility studies, including workflow analysis, space design, or cost comparison analysis.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 5% | 1.3 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 4%Half by Dec 2027 |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Computer Network Support Specialists52% now, 77% by 2028
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators21% now, 79% by 2028
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects16% now, 64% by 2028
- Computer Systems Analysts10% now, 72% by 2028
- Software Developers11% now, 63% by 2028
- Database Administrators24% now, 86% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).