How To Become An Application Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is an application specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Michael Smullen

Almost everyone owns a mobile phone at present and, mobile phones consist of tons of applications installed to make our life comfortable. But who makes those practical applications for us? That would be the application specialist. They try to make specific applications that can accommodate our daily routine work. Plus, application specialists tend to look into our continuously changing needs and then add new features to the existing applications.

The principal role of an Application specialist is to design, develop, and upgrade demands for users. They troubleshoot issues and support the apps by working for developers and users end. They regularly attach new features to enhance the performance and efficiency of older applications. In this way, the users can enjoy maximum benefit from them. But before releasing or upgrading an app, they perform various tests and review checks to ensure it works best.

Typically, application specialists gain a bachelor's degree in computer science or business. Working in various software companies and houses, they can generate an income of $42.43 per hour. The position is a 40 hours standard job that may require work from home and if the workload is high.

What general advice would you give to an application specialist?

Michael Smullen

Director, Undergraduate Engineering Co-oo Program, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Make yourself uncomfortable. Early graduates find success later on by seeking out numerous challenges: how to respectfully ask questions in a business setting, how to cultivate personal and professional confidence, how to create or expand their professional network, how to chart a course for their career and personal aspirations, and how to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Each of these demands stepping beyond one's comfort zone and engaging in unfamiliar actions. It's not merely about setting intentions; it entails embracing novel experiences solely for the sake of growth. Whether it's attending a seminar on home-buying or participating in a networking event, reaching out to a manager for guidance on enhancing value, or reflecting deeply on personal fulfillment, pushing oneself through discomfort will foster mental agility and resilience. Recent graduates should pay close attention to the danger complacency may signify overlooking crucial opportunities that could lead to future regret.

ScoreApplication SpecialistUS Average

Salary

6.6

Avg. Salary $84,635

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.7

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 11.11%

Black or African American 10.80%

Hispanic or Latino 16.72%

Unknown 5.41%

White 55.55%

Gender

female 46.26%

male 53.74%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress level

6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an application specialist

Explore application specialist education requirements

Most common application specialist degrees

Bachelor's

61.4 %

Associate

18.5 %

Master's

8.8 %

Start to develop specific application specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	10.30%
Customer Satisfaction	8.10%
Technical Support	5.16%
Troubleshoot	4.64%
Project Management	4.19%

Complete relevant application specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New application specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an application specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real application specialist resumes.

Gain additional application specialist certifications

Application specialist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific application specialist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for application specialists include Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) and Project Management Professional (PMP).

More About Certifications

Research application specialist duties and responsibilities

Lead the support staff as the SME for troubleshooting issues.
Manage implementation of an EHR application within behavioral health agencies.
Manage multiple imaging-relate projects across both radiology and cardiology service lines, both inpatient and outpatient, to completion.
Maintain HIPAA compliant inbound and outbound 837I , 837P , 834,835,277 , 277CA , 997 and 999 files.

Prepare your application specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your application specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an application specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable application specialist resume templates

Build a professional application specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your application specialist resume.