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Job outlook for data process specialists in the United States
Are data process specialist jobs in demand?
Data process specialist job and salary trends over time
Data process specialist jobs over time
Data process specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 575 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,593 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,530 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 501 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 488 | 0.00% |
Average data process specialist salary over time
Data process specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $48,604 | $23.37 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $47,003 | $22.60 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $45,939 | $22.09 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $45,245 | $21.75 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $44,506 | $21.40 | +1.6% |
Data process specialist jobs by state
Most common states for data process specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 502 | 72% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 224 | 36% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,336 | 34% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 185 | 32% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 387 | 29% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 309 | 29% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 221 | 29% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 212 | 29% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 876 | 28% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,640 | 27% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 507 | 26% |
| 12 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,349 | 24% |
| 13 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 725 | 23% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 245 | 23% |
| 15 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 197 | 23% |
| 16 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,542 | 22% |
| 17 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,249 | 22% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 790 | 22% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 292 | 22% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 216 | 22% |
Most common cities for data process specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark | 3 | 9% | $56,716 |
| 2 | Bloomington | 2 | 2% | $41,158 |
| 3 | Rocklin | 1 | 2% | $62,629 |
| 4 | Kansas City | 1 | 1% | $46,089 |
| 5 | Rockville | 1 | 1% | $63,524 |
| 6 | Chicago | 4 | 0% | $55,857 |
| 7 | Portland | 2 | 0% | $54,375 |
| 8 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $64,205 |
| 9 | Chula Vista | 1 | 0% | $60,886 |
| 10 | Kansas City | 1 | 0% | $53,205 |
| 11 | Mesa | 1 | 0% | $50,142 |
| 12 | Orlando | 1 | 0% | $56,975 |
| 13 | San Antonio | 1 | 0% | $54,255 |
Data Process Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of data process specialist experts
Grand Valley State University
Tiffin University
Monmouth University
Oakland University
The Citadel
Montclair State University
What technical skills for a Data Process Specialist stand out to employers?
Chirag Parikh Ph.D.: If you ask me, I consider valuable experience over good paycheck. Once you have gained that experience the paycheck will follow. As soon as you are out of college, the knowledge gained is very fresh and raring to go. If put into the right place can enhance your technical skills and you can do wonders.
As a Computer Engineering professor, I would say the job opportunities are tremendous for students out of college as they can venture into hardware field (technical support, hardware engineer, test engineer and much more) as well as software field (software engineer, software developer, software tester and much more). The possibilities are endless.
With COVID and employees working remotely there is still ample opportunity to enhance your technical and interpersonal skills as I believe remote working might stay for a while till things get back to normal.
What type of skills will young Data Process Specialists need?
George Miller: Many organizations realize graduates cannot learn everything in college about their major but want the graduate to have a solid foundation on their field of study. The organization wants to mold the graduate to their company environment with how they do things related to the field of study. Most companies want college graduates to have good communication skills (both oral and written), critical thinking skills and be able to work well in teams. These skills have been a staple for graduates since I can remember. This is why a college graduate takes many general education courses related to these skills and many of their major courses emphasize these skills.
Going back to the previous answer I believe graduates in all fields of study will need a better knowledge of technology and easier adaptability to changing technology. Again, an IS degree is already preparing students for this.
What type of skills will young Data Process Specialists need?
Joseph Coyle Ph.D.: I think one of the most important skills is being able to communicate, either written or oral communication. It is my impression that now, more than ever, we rely as much on our interaction with others as we do the individual skills or content knowledge. It is one thing, for example, to be able to construct a mathematical model of a phenomenon, but to be able to describe it in a meaningful and impactful way to a room full of people is even better.
Of course, I think it goes without saying that being tech-savvy or even just open to learning new technologies, is also important.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Data Process Specialists?
Nicole Dambrun: I absolutely believe the pandemic will have a lasting impact on graduates. I believe that the pandemic will have a lasting impact on all of us! Many people have lost their jobs or migrated into different positions since the pandemic started, and it's hard to predict which sectors will emerge strongest when we return to normal, if we return to normal. It would make sense that telecommunication companies, public health organizations and companies championing social justice would come out of the pandemic in need of additional employees. I also hope renewable energy is a field that will grow after this. Graduates may end up heading down a career path they didn't imagine, or working remotely for a company not in their area. In my Calculus classes, I teach mostly Business majors and these students have a degree that I believe can adapt to different industries and positions.
What type of skills will young Data Process Specialists need?
Nicole Dambrun: Many students aren't enthuthiastic about taking classes online, which is understandable, but I think having online classes on your resume demonstrates that you've been able to learn and communicate in an online setting, which will be an important skill for any job that involves working remotely full or part time.
Dr. Todd Wittman Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorThe Citadel
Department of Mathematical Sciences
What skills stand out on Data Process Specialist resumes?
Dr. Todd Wittman Ph.D.: I would strongly recommend any mathematics major to get a good background in statistics and computer programming, even if that is not going to be their primary field of study. You can still concentrate on the topics that interest you, but it is important to diversify your skill set.
Getting involved in a research project tells a prospective employer that you have done work beyond the classroom. It shows that you can tackle a difficult problem that does not have an answer in the back of the textbook. At most colleges and universities, faculty are eager to work with bright undergraduate students on projects. Students are often intimidated by their faculty, but it does not hurt to ask. It might result in an interesting research experience, internship, or even a lead on a job after graduation.
What Data Process Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Shaon Ghosh: Speaking for physics graduates specifically, and STEM graduates in general, I believe that the future is going to be a knowledge-based economy driven by data. It is also a sector that has been the least affected by the pandemic. If there is one skill that students should have in their repertoire, it is "technical computing skill". Note that I am intentionally not calling it "computer programming skill", which is a much more general term (encompassing anything from web-page designing to coding a new Linux operating system).
It is important that students should know how to handle and analyze large volumes of data and how to use advanced numerical and statistical techniques to produce quantitative inferences that have subjective and objective value. This is what I am referring to as technical computing skill. I am not saying that other types of programming skills will not be useful. But, if you have one year to prepare, in my opinion, this is a skill where you can invest your time to get the most benefit.
What general advice would you give to a Data Process Specialist?
Dr. Shaon Ghosh: The advantage of working in a new, and potentially revolutionary, field is that there will be ample opportunities, but that also brings in a lot of competition. To remain relevant and to thrive in such fields we need to continuously update ourselves to the changing landscape of the field. Updating and adapting to changes in the field one is working in is a no-brainer, but it is especially relevant here because the field is going to rapidly change over the next decade; keeping ourself updated takes a bit of effort. So, the best advice to graduating students starting their career in data science or similar fields is not to stop being a "student".
Another important thing to remember is that most technical fields are highly collaborative, more so in the post-COVID-19 world where people have understood the value and concept of working remotely. Remote participation takes collaboration to a much higher level. We in the scientific research community have gotten used to it long ago, but it is a relatively new concept in many other areas. So, there are a few adjustments that one should be mindful of, especially if you are a recent graduate.
We often tend to operate as individuals at school where we are more concerned about our own grades and our own performances, but the value of you as a professional is very much dependent on how your team members perceive you. Are you the person who folks in your team are going to reach out to when they need some help? If you are, then you are more likely to rise to prominence and to the ranks of leadership.