What are the main factors that influence a Desktop Support L1's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Desktop Support L's salary?

A Desktop Support L's salary grows with experience: a Help Desk Support Specialist I (0-1 years)earns $52,266, a Desktop Support L1 (1-3 years)earns $60,660, a Help Desk Support Specialist III (3-5 years)earns $68,650, a Help Desk Support Specialist IV (5-7 years)earns $75,694, a Help Desk Supervisor (7+ years)earns $85,050,

What are the highest paying states for a Desktop Support L1?

Desktop Support L1 salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Desktop Support L1 roles are District of Columbia $67,782, California $67,525, Massachusetts $66,625. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Desktop Support L1 roles make?

Salaries for Desktop Support L1 level roles vary by specialization: Desktop Support Manager: $118,200; Desktop Support Lead: $114,887; Desktop Support II: $86,975; Desktop Support Engineer: $72,117; Desktop Support Analyst: $67,785.

How do different companies affect a Desktop Support L1's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Desktop Support L1 roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Desktop Support L1 Salary in the United States

How much does a Desktop Support L1 make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Desktop Support L1 in the United States is $61,219 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, a Desktop Support L1's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,749
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $55,560 to $68,824
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $50,407

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

AI-Powered Talent

AI-Powered HR

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Desktop Support L1 Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$68,824	$5,735	$1,324	$33
Average	$61,219	$5,102	$1,177	$29
25th Percentile	$55,560	$4,630	$1,068	$27

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Desktop Support L1 Job Openings in the United States

Desktop Support Technician

Akkodis - Cincinnati, OH

Desktop Support Technician

Care Alliance - Cleveland, OH

Onsite Desktop Support Engineer

Forhyre - Ohio Township, OH

Geeks on Site - Cincinnati, OH

Search More Desktop Support L1 Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Desktop Support L1 Salaries

A Desktop Support L1's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Desktop Support L1 Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Desktop Support L1's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $52,266
Early Career (1-2 years): $60,660
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $68,650
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $75,694
Expert (over 8 years): $85,050

Levels	Salary
Help Desk... Level Desktop Support L1	$52,266
Desktop S... Level Desktop Support L1	$60,660
Help Desk... Level Desktop Support L1	$68,650
Help Desk... Level Desktop Support L1	$75,694
Help Desk... Level Desktop Support L1	$85,050

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Desktop Support L1 Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Desktop Support L1s. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $67,782.
California: $67,525.
Massachusetts: $66,625.

District of Columbia $67,782

California $67,525

Massachusetts $66,625

Washington $66,380

New Jersey $66,355

Alaska $66,270

Connecticut $65,425

New York $65,082

Hawaii $63,986

Rhode Island $63,472

Maryland $63,123

Minnesota $62,646

Colorado $62,462

Illinois $62,401

Oregon $62,168

Delaware $61,997

New Hampshire $61,889

Virginia $61,648

Pennsylvania $60,944

Nevada $60,589

North Dakota $60,472

Michigan $60,289

Wisconsin $60,221

Vermont $60,087

Texas $59,713

Maine $59,689

Arizona $59,652

Ohio $59,609

Georgia $59,046

Indiana $58,764

Wyoming $58,709

Utah $58,623

Iowa $58,587

Kansas $58,293

Louisiana $58,207

North Carolina $58,177

Missouri $58,164

Florida $57,926

Montana $57,797

Nebraska $57,675

Kentucky $57,607

South Carolina $57,362

Tennessee $57,209

Idaho $57,148

New Mexico $56,701

Oklahoma $56,603

Alabama $56,242

South Dakota $55,636

Arkansas $55,305

West Virginia $55,128

Mississippi $54,595

Top Paying Cities for Desktop Support L1s

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $77,216
San Francisco: $76,370
Oakland: $74,761

San Jose, CA $77,216

San Francisco, CA $76,370

Oakland, CA $74,761

New York, NY $70,487

Paramus, NJ $69,630

Queens Village, NY $69,627

Passaic, NJ $69,569

Bergenfield, NJ $69,563

Stamford, CT $69,429

Huntington, NY $69,403

Newark, NJ $68,951

Bridgeport, CT $68,822

Vallejo, CA $68,700

New Brunswick, NJ $68,676

Petaluma, CA $68,639

Middlesex, NJ $68,523

Somerset, NJ $68,480

Santa Cruz, CA $68,400

Boston, MA $68,027

Monterey, CA $67,812

Seattle, WA $67,672

Santa Rosa, CA $67,659

Los Angeles, CA $67,641

Juneau, AK $67,482

Washington, DC $67,414

Orange, CA $67,197

Santa Ana, CA $67,035

Long Beach, CA $66,974

Anaheim, CA $66,961

Anchorage, AK $66,931

Santa Maria, CA $66,747

Everett, WA $66,735

Danbury, CT $66,519

Bremerton, WA $66,435

Tacoma, WA $66,215

New Suffolk, NY $66,213

Sacramento, CA $66,196

Santa Barbara, CA $66,129

Trenton, NJ $66,062

San Diego, CA $66,062

Brockton, MA $65,994

Fairbanks, AK $65,844

Lompoc, CA $65,688

Lowell, MA $65,639

Ventura, CA $65,627

Nashua, NH $65,615

Stockton, CA $65,609

Modesto, CA $65,162

Poughkeepsie, NY $65,027

Olympia, WA $64,911

Kennewick, WA $64,911

New Haven, CT $64,886

Lawrence, MA $64,666

Hartford, CT $64,605

Riverside, CA $64,592

New Bedford, MA $64,531

Richland, WA $64,531

Bakersfield, CA $64,445

San Bernardino, CA $64,421

New Britain, CT $64,415

Atlantic City, NJ $64,415

New London, CT $64,390

Norwich, CT $64,372

Portsmouth, NH $64,360

Boulder, CO $64,230

Portland, OR $64,145

Worcester, MA $64,139

Minneapolis, MN $63,949

Philadelphia, PA $63,864

Honolulu, HI $63,662

Saint Paul, MN $63,632

Vineland, NJ $63,619

Providence, RI $63,441

Chicago, IL $63,264

Bellingham, WA $63,190

Springfield, MA $63,141

Baltimore, MD $63,123

Chico, CA $62,970

Pittsfield, MA $62,805

Manchester, NH $62,688

Spokane, WA $62,419

Denver, CO $62,413

Albany, NY $62,125

Troy, NY $62,101

Nassau, NY $62,035

Schenectady, NY $61,972

Wilmington, DE $61,923

Burlington, VT $61,837

Salem, OR $61,813

Portland, ME $61,623

Yakima, WA $61,562

Rochester, MN $61,372

Reno, NV $61,342

Fresno, CA $61,342

Milwaukee, WI $61,286

Detroit, MI $61,225

Ann Arbor, MI $61,215

Allentown, PA $61,207

Colorado Springs, CO $61,103

Syracuse, NY $61,072

Carson City, NV $61,072

Houston, TX $60,986

Eugene, OR $60,956

Gary, IN $60,882

Springfield, OR $60,833

Bismarck, ND $60,821

Galveston, TX $60,778

Medford, OR $60,686

Fort Collins, CO $60,662

Concord, NH $60,631

Austin, TX $60,613

Mesa, AZ $60,484

Reading, PA $60,478

Phoenix, AZ $60,472

Dallas, TX $60,454

Saint Cloud, MN $60,395

Madison, WI $60,313

Utica, NY $60,148

Rochester, NY $60,050

Des Moines, IA $60,044

Raleigh, NC $60,038

Atlanta, GA $59,946

Battle Creek, MI $59,927

Salt Lake City, UT $59,909

Lancaster, PA $59,817

Harrisburg, PA $59,731

Kansas City, MO $59,670

Champaign, IL $59,658

Kansas City, KS $59,658

Fort Worth, TX $59,652

Columbus, OH $59,641

Boca Raton, FL $59,627

Pittsburgh, PA $59,603

Richmond, VA $59,578

Indianapolis, IN $59,566

Cleveland, OH $59,560

Las Vegas, NV $59,487

Cincinnati, OH $59,487

Petersburg, VA $59,395

Huntsville, AL $59,303

Lansing, MI $59,262

Lebanon, PA $59,254

Pueblo, CO $59,248

Appleton, WI $59,229

Buffalo, NY $59,205

Dayton, OH $59,187

Racine, WI $59,174

Charlotte, NC $59,168

Saint Louis, MO $59,150

York, PA $59,113

Elkhart, IN $59,113

Gastonia, NC $59,102

Billings, MT $59,087

Beaumont, TX $59,070

Lorain, OH $59,058

Benton Harbor, MI $59,046

Toledo, OH $59,034

Binghamton, NY $59,003

Rock Hill, SC $58,997

Rockford, IL $58,966

Springfield, IL $58,942

Elyria, OH $58,936

Fargo, ND $58,936

Flagstaff, AZ $58,893

Fort Lauderdale, FL $58,856

Duluth, MN $58,819

Miami, FL $58,819

Cheyenne, WY $58,776

Grand Forks, ND $58,776

Bangor, ME $58,642

Cedar Rapids, IA $58,574

Durham, NC $58,549

Louisville, KY $58,544

Grand Rapids, MI $58,532

Hialeah, FL $58,525

Casper, WY $58,440

Scranton, PA $58,366

New Orleans, LA $58,348

Virginia Beach, VA $58,342

Akron, OH $58,311

Peoria, IL $58,232

Sarasota, FL $58,219

Nashville, TN $58,177

Omaha, NE $58,177

Green Bay, WI $58,177

Baton Rouge, LA $58,146

Charleston, SC $58,134

Jamestown, NY $58,103

Davenport, IA $58,103

Tucson, AZ $58,072

Saint Petersburg, FL $58,036

Tampa, FL $58,023

Evansville, IN $57,987

Port Arthur, TX $57,987

Bradenton, FL $57,962

Santa Fe, NM $57,852

Orlando, FL $57,742

Clearwater, FL $57,723

Canton, OH $57,595

La Crosse, WI $57,595

Albuquerque, NM $57,558

Newport News, VA $57,552

High Point, NC $57,534

Ogden, UT $57,509

Corpus Christi, TX $57,460

Norfolk, VA $57,424

Laramie, WY $57,424

Rock Island, IL $57,387

Saginaw, MI $57,375

Jacksonville, FL $57,368

Salisbury, NC $57,356

Boise, ID $57,344

Moline, IL $57,313

Fort Myers, FL $57,295

Memphis, TN $57,283

Tulsa, OK $57,252

Waterloo, IA $57,215

Spartanburg, SC $57,154

Lincoln, NE $57,124

Fort Wayne, IN $57,111

Provo, UT $57,105

Cedar Falls, IA $57,032

San Antonio, TX $57,007

Greensboro, NC $56,983

South Bend, IN $56,977

Savannah, GA $56,909

Muskegon, MI $56,885

Birmingham, AL $56,879

Winston Salem, NC $56,849

Lake Charles, LA $56,701

Anderson, IN $56,689

Lexington, KY $56,671

Augusta, GA $56,652

Greenville, SC $56,652

Lima, OH $56,603

Wichita, KS $56,597

Tuscaloosa, AL $56,597

Columbia, SC $56,542

Springfield, OH $56,530

Asheville, NC $56,432

Bloomington, IN $56,389

Knoxville, TN $56,169

Shreveport, LA $56,162

Wilmington, NC $56,083

Roanoke, VA $56,083

Topeka, KS $55,973

Frankfort, KY $55,966

Oklahoma City, OK $55,924

Chillicothe, OH $55,899

Longview, TX $55,893

Melbourne, FL $55,887

Sioux Falls, SD $55,789

Mobile, AL $55,783

Terre Haute, IN $55,758

Altoona, PA $55,722

Amarillo, TX $55,679

Killeen, TX $55,660

Fayetteville, AR $55,611

Chattanooga, TN $55,593

Sioux City, IA $55,538

Idaho Falls, ID $55,526

Lynchburg, VA $55,477

Gainesville, FL $55,397

Portsmouth, OH $55,367

Little Rock, AR $55,354

Lafayette, LA $55,330

Youngstown, OH $55,330

Daytona Beach, FL $55,293

Clarksville, TN $55,287

Pensacola, FL $55,281

Temple, TX $55,277

Hopkinsville, KY $55,097

Erie, PA $55,085

Florence, SC $55,060

Charleston, WV $54,963

Great Falls, MT $54,932

Macon, GA $54,846

Tallahassee, FL $54,840

Fayetteville, NC $54,828

Waco, TX $54,816

Helena, MT $54,773

Pine Bluff, AR $54,749

Vincennes, IN $54,675

Lubbock, TX $54,650

Alamogordo, NM $54,614

Twin Falls, ID $54,558

Rapid City, SD $54,540

Jackson, MS $54,430

Huntington, WV $54,426

Greenville, MS $54,424

Parkersburg, WV $54,361

Montgomery, AL $54,350

Wichita Falls, TX $54,289

Springfield, MO $54,289

Biloxi, MS $54,258

Monroe, LA $54,197

Johnstown, PA $54,154

Sumter, SC $54,130

Columbus, GA $54,124

Pascagoula, MS $54,007

Abilene, TX $54,007

Kingsport, TN $53,848

Albany, GA $53,848

Gulfport, MS $53,830

Alexandria, LA $53,628

Fort Smith, AR $53,475

El Paso, TX $53,310

Las Cruces, NM $53,034

Harlingen, TX $52,879

Pocatello, ID $52,869

Florence, AL $52,789

Brownsville, TX $52,777

Mcallen, TX $52,648

Dothan, AL $52,563

Columbus, MS $52,199

Altus, OK $51,914

Lawton, OK $51,797

Pierre, SD $51,577

What Skills Can Increase a Desktop Support L1's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 10.42% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
Operating System (Mentioned in 3.31% Job Postings): Maintaining software that runs on a computer that serves as an interface between computer hardware components and the user.
Computer Systems (Mentioned in 1.99% Job Postings): A computer system is a set of integrated devices that input, output, process, and store data and information. Computer systems are currently built around at least one digital processing device.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting	10.42%
Operating System	3.31%
Computer Systems	1.99%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Desktop Support L1's salary.

Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Insight	$66,117	8%
Leadership	$64,280	5%
Collaboration	$63,668	4%
Presentation	$63,668	4%
Flexibility	$63,056	3%
Analysis	$63,056	3%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Desktop Support L1's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Desktop Support L1s enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Desktop Support L1 with a No Diploma is between $55,233 and $58,558).

Desktop Support L1 Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Desktop Support L1

No Diploma 1.0%

High School 28.8%

Associates 27.6%

Bachelors 39.3%

Masters 3.2%

Doctorate 0.1%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	1.0%
High School	28.8%
Associates	27.6%
Bachelors	39.3%
Masters	3.2%
Doctorate	0.1%

view as graph

Desktop Support L1 Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Desktop Support L1's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 01, 2026

$55,560

Average $61,219/year

$68,824

$4,630

Average $5,102/month

$5,735

$1,068

Average $1,177/week

$1,324

$27

Average $29/hour

$33

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$68,824	$5,735	$1,324	$33
Average	$61,219	$5,102	$1,177	$29
25th Percentile	$55,560	$4,630	$1,068	$27

Salaries of jobs related to Desktop Support L1

Salary Trends for Desktop Support L1

Salaries for a Desktop Support L1 can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $58,478 in 2023 to around $58,021 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Desktop Support L1 salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Desktop Support L1 Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$58,478

2024

$58,363

2025

$58,021

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$58,478
2024	$58,363
2025	$58,021
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Desktop Support L1

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Desktop Support L1 Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Desktop Support L1 job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about