Computer User Support Specialist salary in California
Computer User Support Specialists in California earn a median of $79,570 a year ($38.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 74,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $122,750 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $61,860. California ranks 2nd of 51 states for computer user support specialists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 4.1 computer user support specialists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $85,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer user support specialists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,270 | $25.13 |
| 25th percentile | $62,790 | $30.19 |
| Median | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| 75th percentile | $101,780 | $48.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $122,750 | $59.01 |
| Average (mean) | $85,030 | $40.88 |
Half of computer user support specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,630.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,315.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,060.38 |
| Weekly | $1,530.19 |
| Hourly | $38.25 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Computer User Support Specialist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $106,040 | 13,820 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $93,590 | 5,790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $89,440 | 10,770 |
| Vallejo, CA | $81,280 | 330 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $80,520 | 960 |
| Napa, CA | $79,050 | 160 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,420 | 160 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $76,900 | 520 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $75,720 | 210 |
| El Centro, CA | $75,460 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $75,070 | 20,660 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $74,020 | 5,260 |
| Salinas, CA | $73,540 | 340 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $72,140 | 3,540 |
| Redding, CA | $71,940 | 160 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $71,770 | 280 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $71,620 | 860 |
| Merced, CA | $69,610 | 110 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $69,070 | 550 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $66,540 | 90 |
| Modesto, CA | $66,390 | 360 |
| Visalia, CA | $63,590 | 330 |
| Fresno, CA | $63,370 | 1,190 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $62,980 | 780 |
| Chico, CA | $62,300 | 200 |
Highest-paying states for computer user support specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $80,950 |
| California | $79,570 |
| Washington | $75,220 |
| Massachusetts | $75,070 |
| New York | $72,560 |
| Colorado | $71,900 |
| Connecticut | $70,210 |
| Wyoming | $65,100 |
| Virginia | $65,040 |
| Maryland | $64,750 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $174,410 | $83.85 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $134,440 | $64.63 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $127,720 | $61.40 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $128,740 | $61.89 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $136,110 | $65.44 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $106,440 | $51.18 |
| Information Security Analyst | $138,570 | $66.62 |
| Computer Network Architect | $158,870 | $76.38 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $79,190 | $38.07 |
| Computer Programmer | $116,760 | $56.13 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $159,100 | $76.49 |
| Web Developer | $119,570 | $57.48 |
| Database Administrator | $113,060 | $54.35 |
| Database Architect | $170,160 | $81.81 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1232. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer user support specialist make in California?
The median salary for computer user support specialists in California is $79,570 a year, or $38.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $122,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer user support specialists make in California?
The top 10% of computer user support specialists in California earn at least $122,750 a year. The top 25% earn $101,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer user support specialists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,270 a year, and a quarter of computer user support specialists earn $62,790 or less.
How many computer user support specialists work in California?
About 74,490 computer user support specialists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.