Help Desk Manager Salaries: 43 Real-World Examples Across the U.S.
Think help desk managers just fix computers? Think again.
They lead teams, manage chaos, and keep entire businesses running smoothly— especially in companies with complex hardware, software, and network needs. And for the ones who rise through the ranks from technician to team lead, the payoff can be worth it: salaries of $80,000 or more are well within reach.
But getting there isn’t always a straight line. Some roles require a bachelor’s degree or advanced training, and even seasoned pros can struggle to negotiate a fair salary without good data.
That’s where we come in. We’ve gathered the latest salary numbers, along with key insights on certifications, experience, and training that can help you land (and keep) a top-paying help desk manager role.
What is a Help Desk Manager?
A help desk manager oversees, directs, and manages the work done by a help desk team. IT support personnel who troubleshoot and resolve IT issues rely on managers for personnel-related supervision and operational oversight.
Most help desk managers work their way up—starting as analysts or technicians before stepping into leadership. Sometimes help desk personnel go into more specialized IT roles like a network or systems administrator, but sometimes they go the managerial route rather than focus on the hardware/software parts of the job. Those people tend to become help desk managers.
A help desk manager knows the tools of the IT support trade and is experienced with resolving the issues their teams work with. But their skills are usually more focused on planning, prioritizing and scheduling.
Training help desk staff and monitoring performance metrics is often a part of a help desk manager’s job, too. Help desk managers typically earn more than senior techs because their role is a force multiplier—boosting the entire team’s effectiveness.
43 Real Salaries for Help Desk Managers
There's a lot of competing information about average salaries, median salaries, and (often) excessively optimistic salaries for help desk managers. Those numbers often come from national surveys and statistics. That’s helpful as a starting point, but the numbers change on a state-by-state basis. There’s also a wide range in pay: the highest-paid, most competitive roles for experienced help desk managers look very different from the entry-level ones.
That’s why we’ve broken our data up by state and into three ranges. We looked at the overall average, which includes all positions. We also separated the results and segmented the salaries into higher and lower ranges. We think that provides a clearer picture of the competition in different markets and what salary an experienced help desk manager can expect versus someone landing their first job as one.
The national average salary for a Help Desk Manager is $84,000.
The national average high for a Help Desk Manager is $100,000.
The national average low for a Help Desk Manager is $66,000.
As you look through the following chart of 43 salaries (sourced from ZipRecruiter as of April 2025) for help desk managers, compare each region to the national averages we listed above. You’ll see some places deviate from that baseline by quite a lot.
City | State | Low-end Average | Average | High-end Average |
Puerto Real | PR | $65,000 | $82,500 | $99,000 |
Rochester | NY | $65,000 | $82,600 | $98,000 |
Akron | OH | $63,000 | $80,186 | $96,000 |
Tallahassee | FL | $63,000 | $79,574 | $95,000 |
Springfield | MO | $60,000 | $76,413 | $91,000 |
Knoxville | TN | $63,000 | $79,780 | $95,000 |
Columbus | GA | $64,000 | $82,938 | $97,000 |
McAllen | TX | $63,000 | $79,593 | $95,000 |
Clarksville | TN | $57,000 | $73,000 | $87,000 |
Montgomery | AL | $65,000 | $83,500 | $99,000 |
Jackson | MS | $57,000 | $73,795 | $87,000 |
Mobile | AL | $65,000 | $83,133 | $99,000 |
Shreveport | LA | $65,000 | $83,585 | $99,000 |
Chattanooga | TN | $60,000 | $76,603 | $91,000 |
Tucson | AZ | $62,000 | $79,624 | $95,000 |
Waco | TX | $58,000 | $74,731 | $88,000 |
Augusta | GA | $62,000 | $78,823 | $94,000 |
Sioux Falls | SD | $66,000 | $83,039 | $99,000 |
Little Rock | AR | $63,000 | $80,657 | $96,000 |
Savannah | GA | $61,000 | $78,012 | $93,000 |
Pittsburgh | PA | $61,000 | $78,045 | $93,000 |
Cary | NC | $61,000 | $77,618 | $92,000 |
Salt Lake City | UT | $64,000 | $81,266 | $97,000 |
Tempe | AZ | $63,000 | $80,087 | $96,000 |
Atlanta | GA | $64,000 | $80,478 | $96,000 |
Kansas City | KS | $64,000 | $81,087 | $96,000 |
Houston | TX | $62,000 | $78,291 | $94,000 |
Providence | RI | $67,000 | $84,694 | $101,000 |
Minneapolis | MN | $69,000 | $87,846 | $104,000 |
Des Moines | IA | $64,000 | $81,357 | $98,000 |
Austin | TX | $65,000 | $83,714 | $99,000 |
Chicago | IL | $66,000 | $83,884 | $100,000 |
Denver | CO | $68,000 | $86,420 | $103,000 |
Portland | OR | $70,000 | $88,294 | $106,000 |
Los Angeles | CA | $71,000 | $90,792 | $108,000 |
Seattle | WA | $75,000 | $95,739 | $114,000 |
San Diego | CA | $65,000 | $83,011 | $99,000 |
New York | NY | $72,000 | $92,952 | $110,000 |
Newark | NJ | $69,000 | $87,609 | $105,000 |
Alexandria | VA | $71,000 | $89,609 | $107,000 |
Washington | DC | $75,000 | $94,909 | $113,000 |
The highest-paid help desk managers are earning significantly more than their lower-paid counterparts—but no city on our list dips below $45,000 on the low end anymore. In fact, every city we analyzed has a high-end average above $70,000, with many well into six figures.
For example, help desk managers in Seattle can earn up to $114,000, while those in Washington, DC, and New York City top out at $113,000 and $110,000, respectively.
This wide salary spread tells us two things:
Location still matters. Cities with more complex IT environments and higher costs of living tend to offer much higher compensation.
There's serious room for growth. Even if you’re starting in a market with a modest average, there’s a clear upward trajectory—especially if you earn key certifications and gain leadership experience.
While it may seem like salaries are all over the map, the average salaries across cities are much less volatile. There's only about a $22,700 difference between the lowest and highest city averages. That suggests salary potential grows steadily with experience, and the right credentials can help you land a top-paying job regardless of where you live.
4 Salary Considerations for Help Desk Managers
Whether you’re aiming for your first help desk manager role or trying to boost your current salary, four factors tend to separate top earners from the rest: experience, training, certifications, and industry.
If you're lacking in one area, strength in another can help balance things out. For instance, if you're applying to a company that uses unfamiliar tools, having respected certifications can show you have the foundational knowledge to get up to speed quickly.
Just don’t rely too heavily on one pillar. A decade of experience is great, but without relevant training or certifications, it might not be enough to justify a top-tier salary. The more of these boxes you can check, the better your chances of landing (and negotiating) a higher-paying role.
Experience Requirements for Help Desk Manager
Like a lot of managerial positions, experience is one of the most important factors that affects a help desk manager’s salary. Of course, several years of IT support/help desk experience is pretty essential in most help desk manager job descriptions. However, a help desk manager isn’t just a very experienced help desk technician, and companies ask for experience because they want evidence that you also understand the principles of management and supervision.
That means you should try to get supervisory responsibilities in whatever position you currently hold. Sometimes, the experience as a supervisor can be replaced with experience as a trainer, so if you’re able to train new help desk personnel in the job, that can help. But one of the best ways to qualify for a better salary is to supervise other help desk personnel.
A bachelor’s degree can also be extremely helpful for landing a job as a help desk manager. You might also be able to increase your salary simply by earning one. Unfortunately, a degree is often a box that just needs to be checked, and you’ll need a lot of additional supervisory and work experience in IT support if you don’t have a degree.
4 Customer Support Tools You'll Need to Know
Help desk managers don’t need to be hands-on experts in every tool their team uses—but they do need to speak the language. Why? Because managing support means assigning the right tasks, understanding tool limitations, and earning the respect of your team. Here are the core tools you should know—and how they can impact your salary.
Help Desk Ticketing Systems
Ticketing is the backbone of IT support. These tools track, prioritize, and report on issues—so a help desk manager has to know how they work. Tools like Jira Service Management, JitBit, and LiveAgent all handle ticketing differently, and knowing which tool fits your team's workflow can make a huge impact.
Salary impact: High. Your ability to prioritize work efficiently and advocate for better tools can directly affect team performance—and your value as a manager.
Project Management Software
Great managers zoom out. Project management tools like Trello, Asana, and Jira help break complex tasks into actionable steps. You don’t need to be a PM wizard, but you should know how to use these tools to track progress, assign tasks, and meet deadlines.
Salary impact: High. These tools are essential to running a well-organized, high-performing team.
Network Configuration Management Tools
Even if you’re not configuring routers yourself, you should understand how tools like SolarWinds, ManageEngine, or BladeLogic monitor network performance and alert your team to issues. They help you keep your team proactive instead of reactive.
Salary impact: Significant. Knowing NCM tools helps you lead troubleshooting efforts and keep your team efficient.
Office Productivity and Scheduling Tools
Email, spreadsheets, calendars, slide decks—being a help desk manager means spending a lot more time in tools like Microsoft Office or Google Workspace than on the command line. The better you are at using them, the smoother your day (and your team’s) will go.
Salary impact: Considerable. Communication and coordination are key parts of the job, and your proficiency in everyday office tools shows you’re ready for leadership.
The 8 Best Certifications for a Help Desk Manager
Earning industry-recognized certifications is one of the most effective ways for help desk managers to validate their skills, broaden their knowledge, and enhance their career prospects. Certifications not only demonstrate your expertise but also signal your commitment to professional development, which can be a significant factor in salary negotiations and career advancement.
Here are some of the top certifications that can benefit help desk managers:
1. CompTIA A+
The CompTIA A+ certification is a foundational credential for IT professionals. It covers essential IT skills across various devices and operating systems, including hardware, networking, mobile devices, operating systems, and troubleshooting. This certification is often considered the starting point for a career in IT support.
2. CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Network+ validates the essential skills needed to confidently design, configure, manage, and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks. It ensures that professionals have the knowledge required to support networks in any environment.
3. CompTIA Security+
The CompTIA Security+ certification focuses on the fundamental principles of network security and risk management. It covers topics such as threats, vulnerabilities, access control, cryptography, and organizational security. This certification is ideal for help desk managers who need to understand security protocols and practices.
4. CompTIA Project+
CompTIA Project+ is designed for professionals who manage smaller, less complex projects as part of their job responsibilities. It covers essential project management concepts, including project life cycle, planning, execution, and closure. This certification is beneficial for help desk managers overseeing projects and coordinating teams.
5. CompTIA Cloud Essentials+
CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ covers the fundamental aspects of cloud computing, including cloud principles, business aspects, and the impact on IT service management. It's suitable for help desk managers who need to understand cloud technologies and services.
6. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
The CCNA certification demonstrates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks. It covers topics like network fundamentals, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation. This certification is valuable for help desk managers working with Cisco networks.
7. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Enterprise
CCNP Enterprise validates the skills required to manage and optimize enterprise networks. It covers advanced routing, switching, troubleshooting, and security. This certification is suitable for help desk managers aiming to deepen their networking expertise.
8. Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
This Azure certification demonstrates the ability to implement, manage, and monitor an organization’s Microsoft Azure environment. It covers topics like Azure identities, governance, storage, compute resources, and virtual networking. It's ideal for help desk managers overseeing cloud services and infrastructure.
What Type of Companies Need Help Desk Managers?
If you're a help desk manager chasing top salaries, you should always be scouting for better opportunities. Networking with peers in other industries can help you understand what career growth looks like elsewhere—and where your skills might be in higher demand. Here are the industries where help desk managers are in high demand and where the most competitive salaries can often be found:
Software Developers
Companies that create customer-facing software almost always need help desk teams—and someone to manage them. Even small dev shops rely on help desk managers to keep their teams productive and responsive. You might support external users or help internal teams troubleshoot network and device issues. Either way, versatility is key.
Career impact: High. There’s no shortage of work in software. Whether it’s a product bug or internal tech issue, good help desk managers are essential—and well paid.
Hardware Manufacturers
Hardware companies also rely on help desks to support both their customers and internal staff. Help desk managers in this space are responsible for ensuring fast, effective resolution of IT issues; especially those tied to physical components.
Career impact: High. While many skills overlap with software roles, hardware troubleshooting brings its own challenges. If you’re experienced in device-specific support, you’ll stay valuable in this niche.
Enterprise Service Providers
ISPs, MSPs, and other service providers constantly juggle complex support needs. Help desk managers here are in the thick of high-volume, high-stakes environments—managing teams that solve issues fast and keep customers connected.
Career impact: High. Many help desk managers start or end up here—and for good reason. These companies often offer the best salaries and the most opportunities for advancement.
How to Increase Your Salary as a Help Desk Manager
If you’re working in IT support, you may have set your sights on eventually working as a help desk manager. Or maybe you’ve landed a job as a help desk manager, and you don’t know if you’re being paid enough. Hopefully some of this has helped you figure that out.
If you have a degree, certifications, and experience, you should likely belong in the high-end average for help desk manager salaries. Now, you also have a rough idea of what that average looks like based on where you work.
The key to remember is that there’s always room for improvement, no matter where you find yourself in your career. There’s a certification you can earn, a class you can take, a tool you can master. Help desk managers can earn a solid salary, and even if you don’t live in the cities where they’re paid in the triple digits, with the right preparation, you can still qualify for great pay.
Looking to boost your salary? Start prepping for your next certification with CBT Nuggets today.
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