Average A+ salary [updated 2022]

Interested in getting started as an IT Support Specialist to provide technical help to computer users? This career offers several paths to fulfilling jobs and rewarding pay.

Choosing the proper certification is important to begin your new career or improve your chances of landing your favorite position. It will ensure that you can move on to higher certifications as you build confidence and experience, giving you opportunities to earn more and enjoy greater challenges in your daily responsibilities.

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Enroll in a CompTIA A+ Boot Camp and earn one of the most popular entry-level certifications — guaranteed.

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CompTIA A+ is an excellent option for operational roles that perform critical IT support tasks. This credential could qualify you for positions such as:

• Help Desk Tech
• Field Service Technician
• Associate Network Engineer
•  Junior Systems Administrator
• Desktop Support Specialist
• System Support Technician

This certification will validate your knowledge and skills in resolving computer-related issues either on-site or off-site, serving as the primary point of contact for assistance when problems arise in the client’s computing environment, diagnosing and repairing IT equipment. It will also ensure you stay abreast of new computing technologies and issues.

What is CompTIA A+ certification?

A+ certification is an entry-level credential designed for those hoping to enter the world of information technology. According to CompTIA, “A+ certification is the only industry-recognized credential with performance testing to prove pros can think on their feet to perform critical IT support tasks. It is trusted by employers worldwide to identify the go-to person in endpoint management and technical support roles.” Earning this credential demonstrates the baseline technical and soft skills that a field service technician must have. It is an excellent starting point for those hoping to move from entry-level to intermediate IT roles.

Note that A+ is vendor-neutral, so certificate holders are not tied to one particular software platform. With that said, an A+ certification is not necessarily right for everyone interested in a career in the IT industry. Still, it is a great tool in the learning path to start a career in a help desk, field service technician or other support roles.

You can check the CompTIA Tech Jobs Report to see a monthly snapshot of information technology employment trending at the occupation and industry levels and know which careers are currently on the rise.

What is the average A+ salary?

Salaries vary greatly depending on many factors, including years of experience, the city where you’re employed, the actual job role you fill and even your gender.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), from 2020 to 2030, there will be an increase of 9% for computer support specialists. The 2021 median pay was $57,910 per year and $27.84 per hour.

According to the Certification Magazine 2022 Salary Survey, the average salary of an A + certified professional is $100,660 in the U.S. and $96,330 worldwide. Of course, pay depends on several different factors and, in fact, PayScale reports instead that the average salary for professionals with A+ certification is $65k/year.

The average salary for a man with an A+ certification ranges from $42k to $104k, whereas a woman with an A+ certification has an average salary from $41k to $102k. A+ holders are primarily male at 91.7%, while only 7.7% are women.

What is the average A+ salary by city?

According to Salary.com, the potential median salary for an A+ certificate holder in the United States is $54,663 (between $28,833 and $80,500 as of April 26, 2022). The pay will vary significantly depending on where you live.

• New York City, NY — $34,686 - $96,841
• San Francisco, CA — $36,041 - $100,625
• Dallas, Texas — $28,645 - $79,977
• Chicago, IL — $30,588 -$85,401
• Washington, DC — $32,096 - $89,612
• Seattle, WA — $31,526 - $88,018

You can also use the CompTIA Salary Calculator to get an idea of what you might make at any location for a specific occupation and level of experience.

What is the average A+ salary by experience?

Entry-level A+ holders can expect to earn over $40,000 annually. Average salaries for A+ certified professionals based on years of experience are shown below for an Information Technology (IT) Support Specialist.

• Less than 1 year — $41,633
• 1-4 years — $48,080
• 5-9 years — $53,588
• 10-19 years — $58,803
• 20+ years — $64,701

Earning an A+ certification can be beneficial in a variety of job roles. As you gain more experience and responsibilities, you can expect to see a pay increase.

What is the average A+ salary by job role?

Job titles related to the A+ certification and their corresponding average salary and range (as per PayScale) are shown below.

• Support Technician, IT — $46,634 ($34k - $66k)
• Help Desk Technician — $43,032 ($32k - $60k)   
• Desktop Support Technician— $49,941 ($39k - $67k)   
• Technical Support Specialist — $51,122 ($38k - $71k)  
• IT Support Specialist — $50,454 ($36k - $71k)
• Computer Hardware Technician — $50,249 ($38k - $55k)

Earning your A+ credential can help you get your foot in the door of the IT industry as a computer repair professional, or even in a tech role, providing support and troubleshooting issues.

Earn your A+ certification, guaranteed!

Enroll in a CompTIA A+ Boot Camp and earn one of the most popular entry-level certifications — guaranteed.

Get Pricing

What are the benefits of becoming A+ certified?

A certification confirms subject matter expertise and makes you stand out to a future employer or to help you receive a bonus or promotion. Getting A+ certified, in particular, can jumpstart your IT career with its focus on practical knowledge and skills.

There are additional benefits to earning your A+ certification. For instance, because it is vendor-neutral and globally recognized, you have the opportunity to work with companies across the country or even around the world. 

CompTIA A+ is ISO 17024-compliant and holds ANSI accreditation status, which means that your certification is trusted by employers worldwide. It has also been approved by the Department of Defense as meeting the requirements of directive 8140/8570.01-M, which pertains to personnel performing IAT Level I functions focusing on help desk support for the computing environment.

How can I become A+ certified?

If a career in IT support and help desk is right for you, then the CompTIA A+ is an excellent way to break into the industry for new professionals.

To be eligible for the CompTIA A+ certification, a candidate should have 9 to 12 months of hands-on experience in the lab or field and then must pass two core A+ exams: currently the 220-1101 (covering PC hardware and peripherals, mobile devices, networking technology, virtualization and cloud computing) and 220-1102 (covering installing and configuring operating systems; common methods for securing mobile and embedded devices; best practices for small office/home office (SOHO) wireless and wired networks; application installation and configuration concepts; software troubleshooting; standard operating procedures).

When you’re ready to take these performance-based exams, you can consider CompTIA’s own preparation material and study resources or opt to participate in on-site classes, bootcamps or online learning from any authorized training providers that will also teach the necessary skills to become A+ certified.

For more on the CompTIA A+ certification, view our CompTIA A+ certification hub.

Sources:

• Get into IT, CompTIA
• A+ Certification, CompTIA
• IT Support Specialist, CompTIA
• The Tech Jobs Report, CompTIA
• CompTIA Salary Calculator, CompTIA
• Computer Support Specialists, BLS
• CompTIA A+ Salary in the United States, Salary.com
• Why Should I Get CompTIA A+ Certified?, CompTIA
• Salary for Certification: CompTIA A+ Certification, PayScale
• Best IT Support and Help Desk Certifications for 2022, CompTIA
• 10 Reasons Why You Should Get CompTIA A+ Certified, CompTIA
• What Kind of IT Jobs Can You Get with IT Certifications?, CompTIA
• How Much Can I Make with a CompTIA A+ Certification?, CompTIA
• 2022 Annual Salary Survey, Certification Magazine