5 CompTIA A+ Jobs to Know in 2026: Titles, Duties, and Pay

Key takeaways

One of the best ways to demonstrate your in-demand IT skills is by obtaining CompTIA A+ certification.

• An entry-level IT role, the IT support specialist makes a total median salary of $71,000 [1]. 

• Job roles you can get with CompTIA A+ include help desk technician, field technician, and associate network engineer.

• You can explore other IT certifications like Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or CompTIA Security+ to stand out to employers. 

Learn about some of the entry-level IT jobs you may qualify for with professional certification and how much they pay. If you’re ready to start building in-demand IT skills in as little as three months, try the Google IT Support Professional Certificate to learn the basics in networking, operating systems, and IT troubleshooting. 

What jobs can I get with a CompTIA A+ certification? CompTIA A+ entry-level jobs

With a CompTIA A+ certification, you’ll be prepared for a wide range of entry-level IT jobs, such as IT support specialist, field technician, and associate network engineer. To obtain CompTIA A+ certification, you’ll need to pass two exams covering the most fundamental IT topics, such as mobile devices, virtualizing, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures.

Here are some of the roles you can expect to qualify for with CompTIA A+ certification: 

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of November 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

1. IT support specialist 

IT support specialists provide users with expert technical guidance and help them troubleshoot problems with their hardware or software. Working in-person or remotely on the phone, IT support specialists help either external clients or internal employees working within the same organization. 

According to Glassdoor, IT support specialists earn a median annual total pay of $71,000 as of November 2025 [1]. If you enjoy problem-solving and people-facing roles, you might enjoy this IT career. 

2. Help desk technician 

Help desk technicians, much like IT support specialists, provide users with either in-person or remote technical guidance to help them solve common hardware and software problems. However, unlike IT support specialists, help desk technicians tend to focus primarily on relatively common problems that can be solved quickly and don’t require in-depth assistance. 

According to Glassdoor, help desk technicians make a median total pay of $64,000 as of November 2025 [2]. If you enjoy problem-solving, working with others, and thinking quickly on your feet, then you might consider pursuing a job as a help desk technician. 

3. Field technician 

Field technicians travel to clients to provide on-premise support and guidance, such as troubleshooting software or hardware, repairing computer networks, or installing systems. Typically, field technicians handle relatively complex problems that can’t be solved over the phone and work in a much more hands-on capacity than other IT professionals.

According to Glassdoor, field technicians earn a median total pay of $58,000 as of November 2025 [3]. If you’re intrigued by the possibility of handling some of the most complex IT problems and working in person, then a field technician role might be right for you. 

4. Desktop support specialist 

Desktop support specialists provide technical guidance to users and help them resolve common computer problems, including via phone or chat support and in-person. As a result, a desktop support specialist performs many of the same duties as a help desk technician but also often works directly with users’ hardware or software to ensure that it is properly configured, formatted, or installed.

According to Glassdoor, desktop support specialists earn a median total pay of $73,000 as of November 2025 [4]. If you enjoy handling a range of IT problems, from quick-and-easy ones that can be solved over the phone to more complex ones that require hands-on assistance, then a job as a desktop support specialist could be good for you. 

5. Associate network engineer

Associate network engineers support senior or advanced network engineers as they install, maintain, troubleshoot, or repair users’ computer networks. Capable of working onsite or remotely, associate network engineers assist their more senior counterparts as they do the important work of ensuring the proper functioning of their client’s or employer’s computer network, including the devices connected to it, like phones, routers, and laptops.

According to Glassdoor, associate network engineers earn a median total pay of $123,000 as of November 2025 [5]. If you enjoy the most technical details of network design and engineering, you might consider a career as an associate network engineer.

Companies that recommend or require CompTIA A+ certification 

As you’re looking for jobs, you may come across some that don’t just prefer you to have CompTIA A+ certification but actually require it. Some employers that recommend or require CompTIA A+ certification include Dell, Intel, HP, Nissan, and Blue Cross Blue Shield) [6].

If you want to pursue a career at one of these employers, then CompTIA A+ certification might be the right choice for you. 

Other IT certifications and Professional Certificates to consider

CompTIA A+ certification isn’t the only IT certification in town. At a glance, here are some other certifications or Professional Certificates you might consider pursuing to improve your chances of landing an entry-level IT job: 

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

• CompTIA Security+

• GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF)

• Google IT Support Professional Certificate 

• IBM IT Support Professional Certificate 

Read more: What Is CompTIA Network+ Certification?

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