What is a Network Support Specialist?
At Asher, we believe in helping our students find their way to the career of their dreams. Our friendly and professional Admissions staff is always available to help future, current, and former students discuss and explore their career options. One option we offer at Asher is our Network Support Specialist program, an IT career that is in demand and growing!
Are you interested in computers and making a career out of working with them? Have you ever considered a career as a Network Support Specialist? Maybe you’re not sure what a Network Support Specialist is, or what they do. Here we break down the program, the career, and the employment outlook, so you can make the best decision for yourself, and your future.
Network Support Specialists are the IT professionals who are responsible for analyzing, testing, troubleshooting, and evaluating existing network systems, such as local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and Internet systems or a segment of a network system. Network Support Specialists perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption.
In a typical Network Support Specialist job, tasks include testing network equipment to fix issues, monitoring network performance, and installing and maintaining network systems and equipment. A Network Support Specialist will work with local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) systems, and internet systems to keep them running efficiently.
IT professionals such as Network Support Specialists are in demand and well-paid. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, projected growth for IT careers is 12%, well above the national average for all occupations. The average hourly wage for Network Support Specialists is $32.46, also well above average. Additionally, the annual pay for Network Support Specialists averages $67,510 per year, with the top 10% of these professionals earning over $100,000 a year.
Asher College prepares students for careers as Network Support Specialists through hands-on instruction from IT professionals. Asher’s Network Support Specialist program teaches the fundamentals of networking, such as subnetting, OSI reference model, LAN and WAN networking devices, and TCP/IP, as well as operational and organizational security and cryptography basics. Students enrolled in this program will have the opportunity to learn ICND1 and ICND2, which is necessary for implementing and managing Cisco networking equipment. This program can result in two CompTIA certifications and two Cisco certifications.
Network Support Specialist graduates at Asher College receive career services, including information on how to search for and find the perfect job, tips on interviewing and preparing a cover letter, and assistance with resume writing. Once students graduate they may find a career as one of the following:
- Network Support Specialist
- Network Technician
- LAN/WAN Administrator
- Security Specialist
The Network Support Specialist program at Asher is a great place to start a career as an IT Professional. Asher College is an official Microsoft Imagine Academy, a CompTIA Academy partner, and a Cisco training and testing center. With locations in Sacramento, CA; Las Vegas, NV; and Dallas, TX, Asher College is an excellent choice for IT training and certification. If you think a career as a Network Support Specialist might be a good fit for you, then you should check out Asher College!
