IT support
Hire help desk and IT support staff
IT support is still the largest IT job market in the US, but the work has changed: chatbots now handle password resets, and people handle everything the chatbot can't. Computer user support specialists alone have tens of thousands of openings a year. Madrone places help desk, desktop support, field and NOC staff for MSPs and in-house IT teams, including second shift and on-site roles.
How the job changed
| Role | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Help desk analyst | Reset passwords | Handles what the chatbot can't, and writes the fix down for next time |
| Desktop support | Fixed one laptop at a time | Manages devices remotely and rolls out Microsoft 365 and Copilot |
| Field technician | Drove to every call | Handles the on-site work remote tools can't reach |
| NOC analyst | Watched dashboards | Sorts real alerts from noise and escalates the right ones |
Roles we place
- Help desk and service desk analysts (Tier 1 to 3)
- Desktop support technicians
- Field and on-site technicians
- NOC analysts
- IT support specialists for plants, clinics and branches
Typical pay
| Role | Pay | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Computer user support specialists | Median $61,860 a year | BLS |
National figures. Pay varies by location and seniority; a Role Review gives you the number for your market.
Contract or hire?
Contract for a busy season, a device refresh, an office move or leave coverage. Contract-to-hire works well here: you see the person handle real tickets before you commit.
How we find them
We don't post jobs. We map who is doing this work today, reach out with a message written for each person, and draw on a database we've built since 2007. A recruiter screens every candidate and verifies identity and work history before you see them. Most roles are filled in one to three weeks.
Sources: BLS employment projections, Aug 2026, BLS Occupational Outlook: computer support specialists.
Questions
Can you cover second shift or weekends?
Yes. We'll tell you up front if the shift changes the rate.
Do you work with MSPs?
Yes. MSPs are one of the two groups we're built for. We place techs who join your team for a client onboarding, a project or a busy season, and direct hires for the seats you keep.
How fast?
Most support roles are filled in one to three weeks.