Is there a prospect of becoming a computer specialist?

[trek1203]

I am 21 years old and I am thinking of moving towards repairing and servicing computers and laptops. I read different books, like Tenebaum, with his computer architecture, Harris, etc. I like it. I would also like to study programming, in this area it should also help (assembler). So I would like to know from people in the know, what are the prospects for this life role these days? How is this area in terms of finances? The goal is not just to be a master at re-soldering capacitors and cleaning fans from dust, but a good specialist. Now I work in the field of CNC machine repairs, and the prospect of staying at the plant does not attract me much. In my free time at home, I study how computers work, buy broken parts on the second-hand market and try to restore them, at the same time visually contemplating their device and operation. But here comes the question that monitoring vacancies, I do not find anything interesting, only specialists in the repair of household appliances, with a salary of 1000 BYN. And if there are interesting options, then these are some strange companies that I can't find anything about on the Internet. In the future, I might want to open my own business, my own service. But the job market at the moment doesn't make me happy. And so, standing at this crossroads, I want to ask those who are in this business, or know about it, what are the prospects for working as a computer specialist and getting a high salary? Maybe there are instructions on how to approach the learning process? What kind of thermal table should I buy in the end to try re-soldering motherboard and video card chips at home, and so that it doesn't hit my pocket (purely amateur, home re-soldering, if I may say so). Or should I still move in a different direction? The direction of development, perhaps, or something else. Thank you in advance for your answer.

[fzabkar]

Data recovery used to be a high value aspect of computing, but people are now getting out of the business because the professional tools are not keeping up with the changes in technology. There may still be some opportunity for you, though.

For example, if someone overvolts their HDD, the usual result is a shorted TVS diode. The repair can be approached in 3 ways:

1/ Diode Removal - remove the diode and bridge a fuse.
2/ Drive Repair - replace the diode and fuse.
3/ Data Recovery - do #1, but copy the data to a replacement drive, keep the customer's drive, and bill the customer $$$.

"DR" can earn you $50 or $500, depending on what you call it.

BTW, factory work, as an external contractor, generally pays well, so I would keep in touch with that side of the industry.

[RoGeorge]

I would recommend to stay with CNC machines and industrial equipment (plus, they include computers too).

In 10 years from now there won't be many desktop/laptops left, and most of them will be close to impossible to service.  It will be cheaper to just discard the defective ones and upgrade to a newer model, than to service the defective ones.  Same for assembler language, close to nobody is still using that today, in 10 years it will be more of a vintage curiosity than something to leave from as a specialist.

[Wallace Gasiewicz]

Maybe things have changed but.....when I was in Manufacturing, many machines or assembly lines cost millions of dollars and were in use for a long time. They were run with old computers and old programs and even old languages that were entirely out of date and not maintained by the original equipment manufacturers.   It was very expensive to get someone to service these things but a lot cheaper than buying a new assembly line for 100 Million.  Especially if you just need the line to function for a year or two till new factory is ready.   
Our newly graduated engineers would look quite flustered!!!    People with that sort of knowledge and access to parts can do quite well financially.
Even simple things like having a PCMCIA Card would cost a lot of money.   
I would imagine that the current crop of computer controlled machines will suffer the same fate as technology changes in a few short years.