How To Become A Data Collection Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a data collection specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A data collection specialist gathers and collects data through the creation and administration of surveys, research, and interviews. A data collection specialist works closely with a data analyst. Your main job as a data collection specialist is to extract data either through surveys carried out through various means or by creating programs that extract data from corporate databases. After the extraction and gathering of data, you will review and clean data, and then finally present data using presentation tools like Excel and PowerPoint. Your daily tasks might include updating spreadsheets/data systems and analyzing accounts to identify discrepancies.

You will earn a minimum wage of $33,800 per annum as a data collection specialist. Your most-needed skills are data-entry skills, presentation skills, managing a computer database system, research, and survey skills. A minimum qualification of a bachelor's degree is required. You would usually find data collection jobs in the technology and healthcare industries.

ScoreData Collection SpecialistUS Average

Salary

3.4

Avg. Salary $43,904

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.49%

Asian 3.76%

Black or African American 14.54%

Hispanic or Latino 16.52%

Unknown 4.13%

White 60.56%

Gender

female 66.18%

male 33.82%

Age - 46

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 - 46

Stress level

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a data collection specialist

Explore data collection specialist education requirements

Most common data collection specialist degrees

Bachelor's

46.2 %

Associate

21.9 %

High School Diploma

13.5 %

Start to develop specific data collection specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Data Collection	43.91%
Computer Database	6.75%
Data Entry	5.82%
Outbound Calls	4.70%
Telephone Interviews	3.94%

Complete relevant data collection specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New data collection 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 a data collection specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real data collection specialist resumes.

Research data collection specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage and prepare pharmaceutical records for multiple FDA audits.
Enter proper diagnostic code (ICD-9), procedure codes (CPT) which patient is treated under.
Produce crime maps using GIS software.
Operate with strict adherence to data security practices in compliance with HIPPA.

Prepare your data collection specialist resume

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

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