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Candidates that have the CompTIA A+ entry-level certification typically have an easier time getting jobs than those who are not certified. This is true all over the country, not just in Maryland and the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Employers and IT recruiters often make it a point (sometimes a requirement) to seek out candidates who have the CompTIA A+ certification. This credential lets them know that you have the knowledge and skills they require for various IT positions. In the metro D.C area, there are various jobs that require candidates to have an A+ certification.

Which CompTIA A+ Jobs Are In-Demand in Maryland?

Below are some of the most in-demand jobs you can find in metro Washington D.C. that look for CompTIA A+ certified employees, and the average salary that goes with them:

Technical Support Specialist

A Technical Support Specialist is responsible for providing technical assistance, advice, and support to businesses and consumers. In this role, you will strive to keep employees connected by performing hardware and software system troubleshooting when there are issues. This is a crucial role in the everyday operations of an office environment. The average annual salary for Technical Support Specialists in metro Washington D.C. is $48,211

Computer User Support Specialist

Computer User Support Specialists are responsible for providing technical support to assist solving problems. They have to have the knowledge needed to ask the right questions in order to troubleshoot issues and walk users through steps for solutions. Training end users is often part of a support specialist’s job duties. The average annual salary for Computer User Support Specialists in metro Washington D.C. is $43,510.

Help Desk Technician

The role of a Help Desk Technician involves reporting, documenting, and dispatching the proper resources to fix internal technical problems. Sometimes these technicians work in the same building as the users they are working with, while other times they perform their role remotely. As a Help Desk Technician, you may or may not be responsible for resolving problems, as some individuals in this role are only required to receive user problems and log them into the tracking system. The average annual salary for Help Desk Technicians in metro Washington D.C. is $45,245.

Computer Network Support Specialist

A Computer Network Support Specialist is one of the top CompTIA A+ certification jobs because it focuses on networks that are critical to the daily operations of many organizations. In this job, you will be required to test and evaluate networks, perform network system maintenance, and troubleshoot network issues. You may work Internet connections, wide area networks (WANs), and local area networks (LANs). The average annual salary for Computer Network Support Specialists in metro Washington D.C. is $65,508.

IT Support Technician

The main responsibility of an IT support technician is to maintain computer equipment and services by  troubleshooting to identify and mitigate technical problems, as well as installing and updating software and hardware, and making recommendations for computer equipment and products to improve productivity. The average annual salary for IT Support Technicians in metro Washington D.C. is $48,602.

Desktop/Technical Support Technician

The role of the Technical Support Technician is to provide help and support to organizations’ employees who use computer systems and software. In this position, you will support IT employees within an organization, helping with the development of long-term strategies to meet IT needs, as well as developing and writing specifications for procuring desktop hardware, PCs, and other related equipment. The average annual salary for Desktop/Technical Support Technician in metro Washington D.C. is $44,804.

Field Service Technician

A Field Service Technician is an employee who provides customer support and service needs during field visits and dispatches. In this role, you will typically be responsible for managing on-site installations, repairs, maintenance, and testing. Additionally, you will perform diagnostics on technical problems and errors and help determine the appropriate course of action for solutions. The average annual salary for Field Service Technicians in metro Washington D.C. is $43,327.

Systems Administrator

In the Systems Administrator role, you are responsible for the installation and configuration of hardware, software, and networks. Additionally, job duties include troubleshooting issues, monitoring system performance, and ensuring the efficiency and security of an organization’s IT infrastructure. The role also requires you to manage network servers and technology tools, making sure they perform correctly, as well as monitoring and maintaining systems to the correct specifications, setting up workstations and accounts, and ensuring security through firewalls, backups and access controls. The average annual salary for Systems Administrators in metro Washington D.C. is $79,045.

Get Your CompTIA A+ Certification in Maryland

The CompTIA A+ certification, while an entry-level credential, is one that can help you get your foot in the door with many different corporations and government agencies in metro D.C. Some of the biggest employers of IT professionals in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia include General Dynamics, AT&T, Oracle, Northrup Grumman, Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and many others. It’s a certification that will help launch your IT career, no matter what your ultimate IT career path turns out to be.