Career Specializations

• Computer Support Specialists: These professionals use their knowledge of desktop applications and network issues to help resolve usability problems for their clients. They may work as members of in-house tech support teams, or they may assist users over the phone.
• Secretaries and Administrative Assistants: Secretaries and administrative assistants are usually required to have an advanced level of knowledge of desktop applications. They often respond to e-mails, perform data entry, and utilize desktop publishing programs.
• Systems Administrators: Systems admins are IT professionals who work to make entire computer systems more efficient and productive. They install new hardware and software, and ensure that the computer and network systems are working together properly.

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Degree Levels Available for Desktop Applications

• Associate Degree: 2 years to complete
• Bachelor's Degree: 4 years to complete

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Education and Certification Requirements

The education requirements you will need for a career in desktop applications depend on the job title or position you would like to hold. An associate degree in desktop applications, information technology, or a related information science area can be good preparation for computer support specialist and administrative assistant positions.

These degree programs generally include courses in application software, networking, HTML, programming concepts, spreadsheet usage, and word processing. Students leave the degree with a mastery of desktop applications programs, the ability to perform advanced tasks with these applications, and the skills for helping others with issues in their software applications.

More advanced jobs involving desktop applications mastery usually require a bachelor's degree in computer science, information science, or management and information systems. In these IT degrees, desktop applications are only a subset of the technical skills that students learn during the program.

Courses in databases, advanced programming, network administration, and IT security are more common in these degrees. Management-focused degrees will also include courses in business areas, such as leadership, decision making, and strategic IT use. These bachelor's degrees are suitable for careers in network administration, systems administration, systems analysis, and more information technology-intensive careers.

There are no industry-wide, mandatory certification requirements for desktop applications specialists. However, there are a number of voluntary IT certifications, which may be helpful for finding employment or for advancing in one's current firm.

Those who would specifically like to demonstrate their desktop applications expertise might be interested in the A+ certification offered by industry trade group CompTIA, which tests certification candidates on basic systems operations and use. Microsoft offers certification in its popular Office suite of desktop applications.

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Salary Information

As is the case with desktop applications education requirements, the salary you can expect to earn in a desktop applications career depends on your job title. Computer support specialists with an associate or bachelor's degree in desktop applications can expect initial job offers of around $34,000 a year; with some experience, wages can increase to $43,000-56,000.

Secretaries and administrative assistants usually earn around $23,000 with limited experience and no degree; those with a college degree and demonstrated abilities can earn $29,000-36,000. (BLS; BLS)

Advanced IT jobs that require a bachelor's degree generally pay much higher salaries. For example, computer network, systems, and database administrators generally earn about $52,000 with a bachelor's degree. Those with professional experience or a master's degree can earn $66,000-84,000. Computer systems analysts earn even more, with entry-level wages at $58,000, and experienced professionals earning $76,000-96,000. (BLS; BLS)           

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Job Outlook

The job outlook for desktop applications careers varies by specialty, although most IT-focused careers are predicted to have good to excellent job opportunities in the next few years. Network, systems, and database administrators, for example, are predicted to experience a 30% overall increase in jobs by 2018. To put this in perspective, the national average rate of job creation is 7-10%.

Computer systems analysts are also predicted to have fast growth, as businesses look for experts to help them stay ahead of the information technology curve. Computer support specialists are predicted to have job growth of around 17%; while this is still faster-than-average, it is slower than other IT careers, due to vast offshoring of computer support jobs.

Job opportunities should be best in these IT-based fields for individuals who have a relevant bachelor's degree, or an associate degree with professional certification. IT workers with good communication skills will also have an edge on the competition. (BLS; BLS; BLS)

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Related Careers 

Computer networking professionals install LAN and WAN networks for businesses, to allow the business to communicate data more quickly and effectively. They also work to secure networks from data breaches. A bachelor's or associate degree in information systems, computer science, or a related field is the usual requirement for entering this career.

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