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What does a data support specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Ng'ang'a Muchiri

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.

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Data support specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real data support specialist resumes:

  • Assist users of varying PC and application skills levels and manage through a wide variety of customer scenarios.
  • Require knowledge of technical issues and ability to troubleshoot.
  • Maintain EDI and EFT enrollment with payers.
  • Create tickets, troubleshoot and resolve client issues.
  • Configure ThinkPad laptops for VPN access using iPass software and SecureID authentication.
  • Assist project managers, schedulers, financial managers and system analysts with software installation, database configuration and software usage.
  • Secure patient information and maintain administration and patient confidence by completing and safeguarding medical records per company and HIPPA regulations.

Data support specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 26% of Data Support Specialists are proficient in Qa Testing, Data Support, and Data Analysis. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Problem-solving skills.

We break down the percentage of Data Support Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Qa Testing, 26%

    Performed QA testing on web and iOS, validated bugs & identified steps for consistent reproduction.

  • Data Support, 16%

    Deliver checks/client correspondence to Regional office on a weekly basis Data Support Specialist

  • Data Analysis, 7%

    Provided historical data analysis and trends of membership and chapter related information.

  • Troubleshoot, 6%

    Required knowledge of technical issues and ability to troubleshoot.

  • Patient Data, 5%

    Prepare relevant patient data files for adjudication.

  • Technical Support, 5%

    Provided consistent outstanding business customer service for technical support on mobile devices.

"qa testing," "data support," and "data analysis" are among the most common skills that data support specialists use at work. You can find even more data support specialist responsibilities below, including:

Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a data support specialist to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic." Additionally, a data support specialist resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "answered all inbound calls from customer interested in our products and services. "

Listening skills. Another essential skill to perform data support specialist duties is listening skills. Data support specialists responsibilities require that "support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions to clarify the situation." Data support specialists also use listening skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "communicated with customer service representatives, supervisor and general management regarding inquiries and status of job orders. "

Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for data support specialists to perform their duties. For an example of how data support specialist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems, analyze them, and solve them." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a data support specialist: "performed database administration and resolved customer issues in a call center environment. ".

Speaking skills. A big part of what data support specialists do relies on "speaking skills." You can see how essential it is to data support specialist responsibilities because "support workers must describe the solutions to computer problems in a way that a nontechnical person can understand." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical data support specialist tasks: "represented market data team for equity stability and change management weekly problem management conferences. "

Writing skills. Another crucial skill for a data support specialist to carry out their responsibilities is "writing skills." A big part of what data support specialists relies on this skill, since "strong writing skills are useful for preparing instructions and email responses for employees and customers, as well as for real-time web chat interactions." How this skill relates to data support specialist duties can be seen in an example from a data support specialist resume snippet: "created the reusable transformations for better performance involved in writing unix shell scripts for informatics etl tool to run the sessions. "

All data support specialist skills

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Compare different data support specialists

Data support specialist vs. Technical specialist

The role of technical specialists is to provide technical support for applications and programs to staff members and customers within an organization. They train staff and customers on products and apps and offer advice on the best practices for utilizing technical programs and applications. They also design training materials to teach other staff members the most effective methods of using its technology. It is also their job to reduce company costs by looking for ways to improve productivity and lessen expenses.

The annual salary of technical specialists is $39,690 higher than the average salary of data support specialists.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between data support specialists and technical specialists are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like qa testing, data analysis, and technical support.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, data support specialist responsibilities require skills like "html css," "data support," "troubleshoot," and "patient data." Meanwhile a typical technical specialist has skills in areas such as "customer service," "patients," "project management," and "customer satisfaction." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

The education levels that technical specialists earn slightly differ from data support specialists. In particular, technical specialists are 4.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a data support specialist. Additionally, they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Data support specialist vs. Support lead

A support lead is typically in charge of overseeing the performance of a technical support team, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction. Their responsibilities revolve around assessing the performance of the workforce, resolving complex issues, identifying customer needs and sales opportunities, and training new team members. They may also perform calls and correspondence, respond to inquiries, and resolve issues promptly. Furthermore, as a support lead, it is essential to perform clerical tasks such as preparing progress reports, managing schedules, and maintaining records of transactions.

Support lead positions earn higher pay than data support specialist roles. They earn a $37,733 higher salary than data support specialists per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Data support specialists and support leads both require similar skills like "troubleshoot," "technical support," and "sql server" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that data support specialist responsibilities requires skills like "html css," "qa testing," "data support," and "data analysis." But a support lead might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "cash management," "pos," and "sales floor."

Support leads earn similar levels of education than data support specialists in general. They're 4.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for data support specialists in the next 3-5 years?

Ng'ang'a MuchiriNg'ang'a Muchiri LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

I think the synergy between AI, machine learning, and the humanities, in general, will be exciting. There are whole product lines and industries currently just beyond our reach.

Data support specialist vs. Information systems specialist

An Information Systems Specialist is responsible for supporting and developing the database system of an organization. They are responsible for designing and implementing information systems, developing prototypes, and maintaining hardware and software operations. They build information security to protect the computer system against a threat. Information System Specialists must have good communication and analytical skills to adapt to different organizational needs.

On average, information systems specialists earn higher salaries than data support specialists, with a $24,412 difference per year.data support specialists and information systems specialists both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "data analysis," "troubleshoot," and "technical support," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, data support specialists are more likely to have skills like "html css," "qa testing," "data support," and "patient data." But a information systems specialist is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "data entry," "strong analytical," and "customer support."

When it comes to education, information systems specialists tend to earn similar degree levels compared to data support specialists. In fact, they're 3.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Data support specialist vs. Computer specialist

A computer specialist's responsibilities typically revolve around installing and repairing computer hardware and software. They meet with clients to identify their needs, examine and troubleshoot equipment, perform upgrades, and discuss the extent of repairs or replacements to clients. In a company setting, a computer specialist is in charge of overseeing an array of equipment, conducting regular maintenance checks, and performing corrective measures as needed. Furthermore, they must provide technical support, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Computer specialists typically earn higher pay than data support specialists. On average, computer specialists earn a $26,867 higher salary per year.While both data support specialists and computer specialists complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like troubleshoot, technical support, and technical issues, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A data support specialist uses "html css," "qa testing," "data support," and "data analysis." Computer specialists are more likely to have duties that require skills in "data entry," "desk support," "network printers," and "os. "In general, computer specialists hold similar degree levels compared to data support specialists. Computer specialists are 0.9% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of data support specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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