An application support specialist is a professional who resolves application issues in a business setting. They have a deep understanding of the applications and systems used in their organization and provide technical support when needed. Their day-to-day tasks may include assisting teams with systems integration, managing query systems, responding to assistance requests, troubleshooting systems, and resolving technical issues. They may also deliver regular training and generate reports. These specialists often specialize in various applications and fields, and they may create codes to resolve application issues. They communicate with clients, provide documentation for user manuals, and maintain excellent client communication when resolving technical issues.
It typically takes 4-6 years to become an application support specialist:
Avg. Salary $81,820
Avg. Salary $59,228
Stability LevelGrowth Rate 10 %
Growth Rate 0.3 %
RaceAmerican Indian and Alaska Native 0.41 %
Asian 11.48 %
Black or African American 11.57 %
Hispanic or Latino 15.89 %
Unknown 5.36 %
White 55.29 %
Gender
female 38.39 %
male 61.61 %
Age - 41
RaceAmerican Indian and Alaska Native 3.00 %
Asian 7.00 %
Black or African American 14.00 %
Hispanic or Latino 19.00 %
White 57.00 %
Gender
female 47.00 %
male 53.00 %
Age - 41
Stress LevelStress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity LevelComplexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life BalanceWork Life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Is being an Application Support Specialist right for you?
Take the career quizAn application support specialist can take various career paths. They can advance to roles like systems administrator or information technology manager/director. They can also move into business analyst, consultant, or project manager positions. Some may choose to become team leaders or vice presidents.
The educational requirements for an application support specialist are typically an associate or bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as computer science, computer information systems, or management information systems. According to Dwight Elliot, Professor of Information Management, Cybersecurity & Law at Palm Beach State College, "Certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals, and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) can also be beneficial for advancing in this career." In addition, skills in areas such as data security, networking, software development, and cybersecurity are highly valued.
Application support specialists need a variety of skills to excel in their role. They should be able to analyze programming languages, build and maintain applications, and write user training documentation. They must also be able to troubleshoot complex application issues, provide technical support, and design custom web applications. As George Miller, Associate Professor Computer Science at Tiffin University, points out, "Many organizations realize graduates cannot learn everything in college about their major but want the graduate to have a solid foundation on their field of study. Most companies want college graduates to have good communication skills (both oral and written), critical thinking skills and be able to work well in teams."
| Skills | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Application Support | 12.70% |
| Customer Service | 10.49% |
| Troubleshoot | 6.80% |
| Technical Support | 5.39% |
| Java | 3.77% |
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New application support specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an application support specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real application support specialist resumes.
An application support specialist's key responsibilities include identifying and monitoring metrics to increase customer satisfaction, building and maintaining service applications, and analyzing programming languages. They also write user training documentation and provide technical client service in a fast-paced, high-volume support environment. Additionally, they design, develop, and manage internal reports, support ERP modules, and troubleshoot production problems. As Joshua Davis Ph.D., a Lecturer at the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Carleton College, notes, "Studying mathematics is good practice for rigorous thinking and problem solving, which are valued across the workforce."
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