What are the main factors that influence an IT Help Desk's salary?

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

How does experience change An IT Help Desk's salary?

An IT Help Desk's salary grows with experience: a Help Desk Support Specialist I (0-1 years)earns $51,944, a IT Help Desk (1-3 years)earns $60,296, a Help Desk Support Specialist III (3-5 years)earns $68,244, a Help Desk Support Specialist IV (5-7 years)earns $75,239, a Help Desk Supervisor (7+ years)earns $84,532,

What are the highest paying states for an IT Help Desk?

IT Help Desk salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for IT Help Desk roles are District of Columbia $69,863, California $69,598, Massachusetts $68,670. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of IT Help Desk roles make?

Salaries for IT Help Desk level roles vary by specialization: IT Help Desk Director: $174,600; IT Help Desk Manager: $118,400; IT Help Desk Supervisor: $82,700; IT Help Desk Lead: $67,742; IT Help Desk Support: $59,477.

How do different companies affect an IT Help Desk's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for IT Help Desk 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.

IT Help Desk Salary in the United States

How much does an IT Help Desk make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an IT Help Desk in the United States is $63,098 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

However, an IT Help Desk's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,837
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $56,927 to $70,290
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,307

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IT Help Desk Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$70,290	$5,857	$1,352	$34
Average	$63,098	$5,258	$1,213	$30
25th Percentile	$56,927	$4,744	$1,095	$27

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Key Factors That Influence IT Help Desk Salaries

An IT Help Desk'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 IT Help Desk Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an IT Help Desk'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): $51,944
Early Career (1-2 years): $60,296
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $68,244
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $75,239
Expert (over 8 years): $84,532

Levels	Salary
Help Desk... Level IT Help Desk	$51,944
IT Help D... Level IT Help Desk	$60,296
Help Desk... Level IT Help Desk	$68,244
Help Desk... Level IT Help Desk	$75,239
Help Desk... Level IT Help Desk	$84,532

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What Am I Worth?

How Do IT Help Desk 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 IT Help Desks. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $69,863.
California: $69,598.
Massachusetts: $68,670.

District of Columbia $69,863 California $69,598 Massachusetts $68,670 Washington $68,418 New Jersey $68,392 Alaska $68,304 Connecticut $67,433 New York $67,080

Hawaii $65,950 Rhode Island $65,420 Maryland $65,061 Minnesota $64,569 Colorado $64,379 Illinois $64,316 Oregon $64,076 Delaware $63,900

New Hampshire $63,789 Virginia $63,540 Pennsylvania $62,814 Nevada $62,448 North Dakota $62,329 Michigan $62,139 Wisconsin $62,070 Vermont $61,931

Texas $61,546 Maine $61,521 Arizona $61,483 Ohio $61,439 Georgia $60,858 Indiana $60,568 Wyoming $60,511 Utah $60,423

Iowa $60,385 Kansas $60,082 Louisiana $59,994 North Carolina $59,962 Missouri $59,950 Florida $59,704 Montana $59,571 Nebraska $59,445

Kentucky $59,376 South Carolina $59,123 Tennessee $58,965 Idaho $58,902 New Mexico $58,442 Oklahoma $58,341 Alabama $57,969 South Dakota $57,344

Arkansas $57,003 West Virginia $56,820 Mississippi $56,271

Top Paying Cities for IT Help Desks

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: $79,586
San Francisco: $78,715
Oakland: $77,056

San Jose, CA $79,586

San Francisco, CA $78,715

Oakland, CA $77,056

New York, NY $72,651

Paramus, NJ $71,767

Queens Village, NY $71,764

Passaic, NJ $71,704

Bergenfield, NJ $71,699

Stamford, CT $71,560

Huntington, NY $71,534

Newark, NJ $71,068

Bridgeport, CT $70,935

Vallejo, CA $70,809

New Brunswick, NJ $70,784

Petaluma, CA $70,746

Middlesex, NJ $70,626

Somerset, NJ $70,582

Santa Cruz, CA $70,500

Boston, MA $70,115

Monterey, CA $69,893

Seattle, WA $69,749

Santa Rosa, CA $69,736

Los Angeles, CA $69,717

Juneau, AK $69,553

Washington, DC $69,484

Orange, CA $69,259

Santa Ana, CA $69,093

Long Beach, CA $69,030

Anaheim, CA $69,017

Anchorage, AK $68,985

Santa Maria, CA $68,796

Everett, WA $68,784

Danbury, CT $68,561

Bremerton, WA $68,474

Tacoma, WA $68,247

New Suffolk, NY $68,246

Sacramento, CA $68,228

Santa Barbara, CA $68,159

Trenton, NJ $68,089

San Diego, CA $68,089

Brockton, MA $68,020

Fairbanks, AK $67,865

Lompoc, CA $67,705

Lowell, MA $67,653

Ventura, CA $67,641

Nashua, NH $67,629

Stockton, CA $67,623

Modesto, CA $67,162

Poughkeepsie, NY $67,023

Olympia, WA $66,903

Kennewick, WA $66,903

New Haven, CT $66,878

Lawrence, MA $66,651

Hartford, CT $66,588

Riverside, CA $66,575

New Bedford, MA $66,512

Richland, WA $66,512

Bakersfield, CA $66,424

San Bernardino, CA $66,398

New Britain, CT $66,392

Atlantic City, NJ $66,392

New London, CT $66,367

Norwich, CT $66,348

Portsmouth, NH $66,335

Boulder, CO $66,202

Portland, OR $66,115

Worcester, MA $66,108

Minneapolis, MN $65,913

Philadelphia, PA $65,824

Honolulu, HI $65,616

Saint Paul, MN $65,586

Vineland, NJ $65,572

Providence, RI $65,389

Chicago, IL $65,206

Bellingham, WA $65,130

Springfield, MA $65,080

Baltimore, MD $65,061

Chico, CA $64,903

Pittsfield, MA $64,733

Manchester, NH $64,613

Spokane, WA $64,335

Denver, CO $64,329

Albany, NY $64,032

Troy, NY $64,007

Nassau, NY $63,940

Schenectady, NY $63,875

Wilmington, DE $63,824

Burlington, VT $63,736

Salem, OR $63,710

Portland, ME $63,515

Yakima, WA $63,452

Rochester, MN $63,256

Reno, NV $63,225

Fresno, CA $63,225

Milwaukee, WI $63,168

Detroit, MI $63,105

Ann Arbor, MI $63,094

Allentown, PA $63,086

Colorado Springs, CO $62,979

Syracuse, NY $62,947

Carson City, NV $62,947

Houston, TX $62,859

Eugene, OR $62,827

Gary, IN $62,751

Springfield, OR $62,701

Bismarck, ND $62,688

Galveston, TX $62,644

Medford, OR $62,549

Fort Collins, CO $62,524

Concord, NH $62,493

Austin, TX $62,474

Mesa, AZ $62,341

Reading, PA $62,335

Phoenix, AZ $62,329

Dallas, TX $62,310

Saint Cloud, MN $62,249

Madison, WI $62,165

Utica, NY $61,994

Rochester, NY $61,893

Des Moines, IA $61,887

Raleigh, NC $61,881

Atlanta, GA $61,786

Battle Creek, MI $61,767

Salt Lake City, UT $61,748

Lancaster, PA $61,653

Harrisburg, PA $61,565

Kansas City, MO $61,502

Champaign, IL $61,489

Kansas City, KS $61,489

Fort Worth, TX $61,483

Columbus, OH $61,472

Boca Raton, FL $61,458

Pittsburgh, PA $61,433

Richmond, VA $61,407

Indianapolis, IN $61,395

Cleveland, OH $61,388

Las Vegas, NV $61,313

Cincinnati, OH $61,313

Petersburg, VA $61,218

Huntsville, AL $61,123

Lansing, MI $61,081

Lebanon, PA $61,073

Pueblo, CO $61,067

Appleton, WI $61,048

Buffalo, NY $61,022

Dayton, OH $61,004

Racine, WI $60,991

Charlotte, NC $60,985

Saint Louis, MO $60,966

York, PA $60,928

Elkhart, IN $60,928

Gastonia, NC $60,916

Billings, MT $60,901

Beaumont, TX $60,884

Lorain, OH $60,871

Benton Harbor, MI $60,858

Toledo, OH $60,846

Binghamton, NY $60,814

Rock Hill, SC $60,808

Rockford, IL $60,776

Springfield, IL $60,751

Elyria, OH $60,745

Fargo, ND $60,745

Flagstaff, AZ $60,701

Fort Lauderdale, FL $60,663

Duluth, MN $60,625

Miami, FL $60,625

Cheyenne, WY $60,581

Grand Forks, ND $60,581

Bangor, ME $60,442

Cedar Rapids, IA $60,373

Durham, NC $60,346

Louisville, KY $60,341

Grand Rapids, MI $60,328

Hialeah, FL $60,322

Casper, WY $60,234

Scranton, PA $60,158

New Orleans, LA $60,139

Virginia Beach, VA $60,133

Akron, OH $60,101

Peoria, IL $60,019

Sarasota, FL $60,007

Nashville, TN $59,962

Omaha, NE $59,962

Green Bay, WI $59,962

Baton Rouge, LA $59,931

Charleston, SC $59,918

Jamestown, NY $59,887

Davenport, IA $59,887

Tucson, AZ $59,855

Saint Petersburg, FL $59,817

Tampa, FL $59,805

Evansville, IN $59,767

Port Arthur, TX $59,767

Bradenton, FL $59,742

Santa Fe, NM $59,628

Orlando, FL $59,514

Clearwater, FL $59,495

Canton, OH $59,363

La Crosse, WI $59,363

Albuquerque, NM $59,325

Newport News, VA $59,319

High Point, NC $59,300

Ogden, UT $59,275

Corpus Christi, TX $59,224

Norfolk, VA $59,186

Laramie, WY $59,186

Rock Island, IL $59,148

Saginaw, MI $59,136

Jacksonville, FL $59,130

Salisbury, NC $59,117

Boise, ID $59,104

Moline, IL $59,073

Fort Myers, FL $59,054

Memphis, TN $59,041

Tulsa, OK $59,010

Waterloo, IA $58,972

Spartanburg, SC $58,909

Lincoln, NE $58,877

Fort Wayne, IN $58,864

Provo, UT $58,858

Cedar Falls, IA $58,782

San Antonio, TX $58,757

Greensboro, NC $58,732

South Bend, IN $58,726

Savannah, GA $58,656

Muskegon, MI $58,631

Birmingham, AL $58,625

Winston Salem, NC $58,594

Lake Charles, LA $58,442

Anderson, IN $58,429

Lexington, KY $58,410

Augusta, GA $58,391

Greenville, SC $58,391

Lima, OH $58,341

Wichita, KS $58,334

Tuscaloosa, AL $58,334

Columbia, SC $58,278

Springfield, OH $58,265

Asheville, NC $58,164

Bloomington, IN $58,120

Knoxville, TN $57,893

Shreveport, LA $57,886

Wilmington, NC $57,804

Roanoke, VA $57,804

Topeka, KS $57,691

Frankfort, KY $57,684

Oklahoma City, OK $57,640

Chillicothe, OH $57,615

Longview, TX $57,609

Melbourne, FL $57,603

Sioux Falls, SD $57,502

Mobile, AL $57,495

Terre Haute, IN $57,470

Altoona, PA $57,432

Amarillo, TX $57,388

Killeen, TX $57,369

Fayetteville, AR $57,319

Chattanooga, TN $57,300

Sioux City, IA $57,243

Idaho Falls, ID $57,230

Lynchburg, VA $57,180

Gainesville, FL $57,098

Portsmouth, OH $57,066

Little Rock, AR $57,054

Lafayette, LA $57,028

Youngstown, OH $57,028

Daytona Beach, FL $56,990

Clarksville, TN $56,984

Pensacola, FL $56,978

Temple, TX $56,973

Hopkinsville, KY $56,789

Erie, PA $56,776

Florence, SC $56,751

Charleston, WV $56,650

Great Falls, MT $56,618

Macon, GA $56,530

Tallahassee, FL $56,524

Fayetteville, NC $56,511

Waco, TX $56,498

Helena, MT $56,454

Pine Bluff, AR $56,430

Vincennes, IN $56,353

Lubbock, TX $56,328

Alamogordo, NM $56,290

Twin Falls, ID $56,233

Rapid City, SD $56,214

Jackson, MS $56,101

Huntington, WV $56,096

Greenville, MS $56,094

Parkersburg, WV $56,030

Montgomery, AL $56,019

Wichita Falls, TX $55,956

Springfield, MO $55,956

Biloxi, MS $55,924

Monroe, LA $55,861

Johnstown, PA $55,817

Sumter, SC $55,792

Columbus, GA $55,785

Pascagoula, MS $55,665

Abilene, TX $55,665

Kingsport, TN $55,501

Albany, GA $55,501

Gulfport, MS $55,482

Alexandria, LA $55,274

Fort Smith, AR $55,116

El Paso, TX $54,946

Las Cruces, NM $54,662

Harlingen, TX $54,502

Pocatello, ID $54,492

Florence, AL $54,410

Brownsville, TX $54,397

Mcallen, TX $54,265

Dothan, AL $54,176

Columbus, MS $53,801

Altus, OK $53,507

Lawton, OK $53,388

Pierre, SD $53,160

What Skills Can Increase an IT Help Desk'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 an IT Help Desk'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	$68,146	8%
Leadership	$66,253	5%
Collaboration	$65,622	4%
Presentation	$65,622	4%
Flexibility	$64,991	3%
Analysis	$64,991	3%

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IT Help Desk Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For IT Help Desk roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, IT Help Desk positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view IT Help Desk as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an IT Help Desk

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense	$69,408	$33.0	10%
Biotechnology	$69,408	$33.0	10%
Business Services	$69,408	$33.0	10%
Chemicals	$69,408	$33.0	10%
Construction	$69,408	$33.0	10%

How Education impacts an IT Help Desk's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many IT Help Desks 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 an IT Help Desk with a No Diploma is between $55,233 and $58,558).

IT Help Desk Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for IT Help Desk

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

IT Help Desk Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an IT Help Desk'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 July 01, 2026

$56,927

Average $63,098/year

$70,290

$4,744

Average $5,258/month

$5,857

$1,095

Average $1,213/week

$1,352

$27

Average $30/hour

$34

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$70,290	$5,857	$1,352	$34
Average	$63,098	$5,258	$1,213	$30
25th Percentile	$56,927	$4,744	$1,095	$27

Salaries of jobs related to IT Help Desk

Salary Trends for IT Help Desk

Salaries for an IT Help Desk can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $58,114 in 2023 to around $57,660 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of IT Help Desk salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of IT Help Desk Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$58,114

2024

$58,000

2025

$57,660

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$58,114
2024	$58,000
2025	$57,660
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for IT Help Desk

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FAQ about IT Help Desk

1. What industry pays the highest salary for IT Help Desk?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for IT Help Desk roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

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.

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