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The differences between data support specialists and database specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a data support specialist, becoming a database specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a database specialist has an average salary of $77,642, which is higher than the $49,083 average annual salary of a data support specialist.
The top three skills for a data support specialist include qa testing, data support and data analysis. The most important skills for a database specialist are database management, database design, and database administration.
| Data Support Specialist | Database Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $49,083 | $77,642 |
| Hourly rate | $23.60 | $37.33 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 182,515 | 41,500 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
The job of a data support specialist is to manage sensitive and confidential electronic data and ensure the accuracy of data being entered into the database. You will be responsible for assisting in the maintenance, implementation, and support of technology, assessment, and instruction that requires data entry. In addition, you will be developing and preparing user materials for instruction reference and documentation. Other duties that you will perform include identifying issues with software applications and resolving them, providing administrative support to the department director, and responding to inquiries related to software applications.
A database specialist is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the databases to maintain the confidentiality of data. Database specialists determine business requirements and manage multiple operating systems to build the database's efficient structures and feasibility. They also install security protection software tools and programs to prevent unauthorized access and potential leak of restricted information. A database specialist coordinates with the system engineers to improve existing databases and upgrade the network infrastructure for optimization.
Data support specialists and database specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Data Support Specialist | Database Specialist | |
| Average salary | $49,083 | $77,642 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $78,000 | Between $53,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Virtusa | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a data support specialist and a database specialist in terms of educational background:
| Data Support Specialist | Database Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between data support specialists' and database specialists' demographics:
| Data Support Specialist | Database Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4% | Male, 47.6% Female, 52.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 17.8% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 6% |