Tech Support
The short answer: According to the BLS, employed computer user support specialists, the job closest to tech support, earned a median $29.74 an hour in May 2025. The catch is shrinking demand: the BLS projects employment of computer user support specialists to change by -3.5% over 2025-35. (BLS OEWS; BLS Employment Projections) Tech support on the side suits someone keeping a day job, as Damien Schreurs did when he built his IT training and consulting business, EasyTECH, alongside an R&D engineering job. (Side Hustle Hero)
| Median pay of employed computer user support specialists | $29.74/hr ($61,860/yr) BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employee pay, not side-hustle income |
|---|---|
| Projected job growth, computer user support specialists | -3.5% BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 |
| One creator's reported earnings | $50–$80/hr Reported by Side Hustle Hero, Jul 2026 |
| One creator's reported hours | 12 hrs/week Reported by Side Hustle Hero, Jul 2026 |
From 4 quotes by 1 creator and BLS data. A creator figure is one person's account.
Go deeper: every source on tech support
How much can you make doing tech support on the side?
Damien Schreurs, interviewed on the Side Hustle Hero podcast about his IT training and consulting work, cited rates of 50 to 80 euros an hour. Employed computer user support specialists earned a median $61,860 a year in May 2025, with the 10th percentile at $40,980 and the 90th at $100,540, according to the BLS. (Side Hustle Hero; BLS OEWS)
Location moves the employee figure: the May 2025 state median was $80,950 in DC and $79,570 in California, against $36,250 in Puerto Rico. (BLS OEWS)
| Related occupation | Median pay | Middle 80% |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialists | $29.74/hr ($61,860/yr), BLS OEWS, May 2025 | $40,980–$100,540/yr |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $36.64/hr ($76,220/yr), BLS OEWS, May 2025 | $47,120–$127,780/yr |
Median annual pay of employed computer user support specialists: $61,860 nationally; highest and lowest states below (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Highest-paying states | Median | Lowest-paying states | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $80,950/yr | South Dakota | $48,260/yr |
| California | $79,570/yr | Arkansas | $46,360/yr |
| Washington | $75,220/yr | Puerto Rico | $36,250/yr |
What do people doing tech support say?
“We talk about 80 euros, 50 euros, between 50 euros an hour.”
“it was three days and a half at work and a day and a half for my own business.”
“revenue or even profit is not necessarily the best metric for my kind of business. In my line of work is the revenue per customer, the yearly revenue per customer that is the best metric.”
“So she's on a video call with them and getting those things done.”
What does it cost to start tech support?
Not enough evidence yet: No source we track states a startup cost yet.
How much time does a tech support side business take?
While building his tech business, Damien Schreurs worked three and a half days at his job and a day and a half on his own business. He negotiated a 70% schedule at his employer to make that split possible. (Side Hustle Hero)
Who is tech support work on the side a good fit for?
One Side Hustle Hero episode describes a provider getting the work done with clients on a video call, so tech support can be done remotely. Damien Schreurs built his IT business alongside a full engineering career, so the route he describes fits someone who can negotiate reduced hours with an employer. (Side Hustle Hero)
Which platforms do people use for tech support?
Platforms people doing tech support use: HelloTech.
Is a tech support side hustle worth it?
Pros
- Tech support help can be delivered over a video call. (Side Hustle Hero)
- Damien cut his clients from 45 to 9 and raised revenue per client about ninefold. (Side Hustle Hero)
Cons
- Damien almost went bankrupt after taking his IT business full-time. (Side Hustle Hero)
- Employment of computer user support specialists is projected to decline, per the BLS. (BLS Employment Projections)
What are the risks of running tech support as a side business?
Damien said the best metric for his kind of business is yearly revenue per customer, and he names chasing client count instead of revenue per customer as a pitfall. He also lists continuing activities such as a newsletter out of habit after they stop working, and not promoting the business while still employed. (Side Hustle Hero)
What are the alternatives to tech support?
- Freelance Writing side hustle: Also from home.
- Selling digital products side hustle: Also from home.
- Tutoring side hustle: Also from home.
- Transcriptions side hustle: Also in online and remote work.
Part of: From home side hustles
Tech support FAQ: does network support pay more?
Does network troubleshooting pay more than user support?
Employed computer network support specialists earned a median $36.64 an hour in May 2025, per the BLS. (BLS OEWS)
Is demand for network support growing?
The BLS projects employment of computer network support specialists to change by 1.2% over 2025-35. (BLS Employment Projections)
Sources and method
Quotes are verbatim and linked to the moment they were said. A figure from one report is not confirmed by a second source. BLS figures describe employees in the closest related occupation. Every quote, the pay in each state and the full source list are on the every source on tech support.
- Side Hustle Hero, podcast, 21 Jul 2026.
- Side Hustle Hero, podcast, 14 Jul 2026.
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35.
Other data behind this page (3)
| Fact | Value | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common pitfalls | Chasing client count instead of revenue per customer, Continuing activities such as a newsletter out of habit after they stop working, Not promoting the business while still employed | Accepted | Side Hustle Hero |
| Demand trend | declining | Accepted | BLS Employment Projections |
| Projected employment change, 10 years: computer network support specialists | 1.2% | Official statistic | BLS Employment Projections |