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Other data processing and communication engineers

How to become an IT Help Desk Technician

Also called: In-house support desk, In-house help desk

Answers users' questions and problems with systems and IT equipment by phone, email or in person.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start, and no particular subject of study is needed. However, the work involves IT equipment such as PCs, multifunction printers, POS terminals and tablets, so IT knowledge is needed. After joining, you have about six months of on-the-job training, then take problems and questions on the job, building experience so you can research and give accurate answers. Useful qualifications for help desk work include IT Passport, MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist), Fundamental Information Technology Engineer, Information Technology Engineer and Registered Information Security Specialist. You need the ability to judge whether a problem can be handled case by case or is a deeper issue, problem-solving skills and communication skills. English is often used in IT technical information and terms, so some English reading and speaking ability is needed. In global or foreign-owned companies in particular, English is sometimes the company language.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become an IT Help Desk Technician?

No particular education or qualification is required to start, and no particular subject of study is needed. However, the work involves IT equipment such as PCs, multifunction printers, POS terminals and tablets, so IT knowledge is needed. After joining, you have about six months of on-the-job training, then take problems and questions on the job, building experience so you can research and give accurate answers. Useful qualifications for help desk work include IT Passport, MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist), Fundamental Information Technology Engineer, Information Technology Engineer and Registered Information Security Specialist. You need the ability to judge whether a problem can be handled case by case or is a deeper issue, problem-solving skills and communication skills. English is often used in IT technical information and terms, so some English reading and speaking ability is needed. In global or foreign-owned companies in particular, English is sometimes the company language.

How much does an IT Help Desk Technician earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥6,097,600 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Other data processing and communication engineers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become an IT Help Desk Technician?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 61% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of an IT Help Desk Technician?

Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026