How much do the people that fix computers make?

Question

im thinking about a career in the computer industry...i know windows xp/2000/98 pretty well

and ive built a few computers...also taken net+4e class in school for networking and taken some other computer class...how much do they make?

Answer 1

It really depends on where you live and what market you are working in.  It also depends if you are working on your own, or for a company that does that kind of stuff, or for a larger corporation just on their computers.

Salaries could range anywhere from $25K to over $100K  It really depends on your level of experience and the market where you are living.

If your skill levels are simply repairing computers for the "home market", a little wireless network setup, virus removal, installation, etc. It's going to be at the lower end of the spectrum, (a "geek squad employee").

If, on the other hand your skill set included advanced server management, configuration, network layout, planning, routing, security, linux servers, windows servers, installation, configuration of server level OS's etc. then you will appeal to a broader range of businesses working in their IT department.  Again, working on your own you can make more per hour, but won't necessarily be busy "40 hours per week"

Answer 2

Hi. This really depends where you want to work. If you want to work on people home PCs then you'd get less than working for a company in IT support or as a freelance consultant helping Businesses.

The big money comes from working with larger corporations and having a specialist skill that they need. Simply being able to fix PCs is not going to make you much money - unless you were just thinking of doing it for extra income.

You really need to learn networking, learn server operating systems and how to install, configure and support some of the more sophisticated networking hardware from Cisco and the like.

The Microsoft Certified System Engineer qualification is a good place to start - although don't just learn how to pass the exam, learn everything that you can.

Then you can think about either working for someone or setting up on your own. Best bet is to get a job for a couple of years to gain experience and then branch out on your own, once you have experience.

IT Consulting can deliver a great income. IN the UK, a decent consultant can clear £600 / day (around $1200) or £60 / hour and up. Experience will see that head towards £100 ($200) per hour and £1000 ($2000) per day.

You need to remember though that you won't be earning every day - although you may work every day.

As a consultant, I take the number of days in the year, subtract national holidays, the holidays that I would like to take, weekends and other non-working days. That leaves you with the theoretical maximum number of days that you could earn money on.

You'll need to take time out for admin, marketing your business (generating new clients) and the day to day activities associated with running a business. I tend to work on 2-2.5 income generating days per week. Sounds like luxury I know, but trust me it ain't.

Then, you work out how much money you need to survive (be realistic here) and divide the money you need to survive by the number of working days that you have - this gives you your minimum income figure to break even (not make a loss)

Hope this all makes sense and hasn't put you off. Working for yourself is one of life’s great freedoms.

Answer 3

I am an IT consultant, with my own business.  I charge $47 an hour, which is d**n cheap.  I only bill around 15-20 hours a week tho, so it's nothing you can buy a house with.

Answer 4

Well you can probably make minimum wage working at bestbuy but theres not really a job for someone with that background that pays anything.

Answer 5

Very few careers start at big bucks with no experience

Take what you can get, go to school, and work your way up.

If minimum wage is all you can get, it's better than 0

the more you learn, the more you earn