If you think about how many computers there are in the world, it might make you wonder who fixes them all. Businesses use computers for ordering, inventory control, billing, and advertising, among other applications, and many households have at least one personal computer.
Computer repairers, also called computer and PC service technicians, provide hands-on repair, maintenance, and installation of new computers and related equipment. Although there will be a slight decline in the coming years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 146,200 computer and office machine repair workers are expected to be employed by 2018. If you took computer repair courses, acquiring formal training and certification, you too could be in demand as a computer repair specialist!
Computer repair courses can train you to fix business and personal computers, large and small. For the same reason that people repair their cars rather than buying a new one every time a part breaks, often it is much less expensive to repair a computer than to replace it.
Computer repair positions typically require individuals to receive computer repair training through an associate’s degree or professional certification. An associate’s degree usually takes two years to complete and will include general education requirements in addition to computer repair courses, while a certification program will be more tightly focused on computers and could last anywhere from 6-18 months depending on the school.
Through your computer repair training courses you will likely be taught how to use diagnostics software and detect broken subsystems within a computer, as well as gain experience with replacing and upgrading the necessary hardware and software.
Computer Repair Career Prospects
After you receive your computer repair training, you can seek work at repair shops, customer locations, service centers, and merchant wholesalers. You could also become a field technician, where you would be sent out into the “field”—an assigned area—to perform routine maintenance. Or you can be self-employed and develop you own freelance repair business, which is a common practice in this career.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statics, the median hourly wage of computer, automated tellers, and office machine repair workers in 2008 was $18.18, with the highest 10% earning $28.41—equating to almost $60,000 salary annually. Salaries have been reported as higher for those who work in computer systems design firms, but specific wages will vary with education and experience.
Getting Started
When attempting to receive lost data and get their computers back in working order, individuals often prefer to seek a professional to assist them. With computer repair training, that professional computer service technician could be you. It is not too late to get started on a new career. What are you waiting for? Begin exploring computer repair training courses today.