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What is a document controller and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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Many people complain that wrangling paperwork at work is a full-time job. For the document controller, paperwork actually is their full-time job. The document controller helps a business keep track of and manage important documents, both in electronic form and in hard copy form.

The document controller needs to be highly organized in order to keep track of important documents and retrieve them at a moment's notice, from blueprints to contracts. The document controller also needs to be very familiar with procedures around signing documents and retaining them, which is especially important if the business has to follow many legal regulations.

About half of document controllers have bachelor's degrees, although many are successful with only an associate's or high school degree. No matter how they get to the position, many businesses will agree that the document controller is crucial to the company's success. Otherwise, everybody else would have to spend their day digging through files.

ScoreDocument ControllerUS Average
Salary
3.2

Avg. Salary $41,157

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.8

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 11.99%

Black or African American 6.24%

Hispanic or Latino 8.82%

Unknown 4.70%

White 67.73%

Gender

female 66.13%

male 33.87%

Age - 43
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 - 43
Stress level
5.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Document controller career paths

Key steps to become a document controller

  1. Explore document controller education requirements

    Most common document controller degrees

    Bachelor's

    53.0 %

    Associate

    22.8 %

    High School Diploma

    9.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific document controller skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Procedures9.33%
    Data Entry8.99%
    SharePoint7.63%
    Hard Copy7.46%
    Computer Database7.37%
  3. Complete relevant document controller training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New document controllers 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 document controller based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real document controller resumes.
  4. Research document controller duties and responsibilities

    • Create and manage eRoom used to procure bid proposals from EPC companies for execution phase.
    • Manage & maintain central filing of all project documentation as per the GASCO document management system (LIVELINK).
    • Work closely with Dallas wireless data quality manager to achieve ISO certification for Dallas wireless data.
    • Manage quality of care improvement initiatives for patients and other mandate hospital standards through surveys and information sessions.
  5. Prepare your document controller resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your document controller 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 a document controller resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable document controller resume templates

    Build a professional document controller 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 document controller resume.
    Document Controller Resume
    Document Controller Resume
    Document Controller Resume
    Document Controller Resume
    Document Controller Resume
    Document Controller Resume
    Document Controller Resume
    Document Controller Resume
    Document Controller Resume
  6. Apply for document controller jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a document controller job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first document controller job

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Average document controller salary

The average document controller salary in the United States is $41,157 per year or $20 per hour. Document controller salaries range between $26,000 and $63,000 per year.

Average document controller salary
$41,157 Yearly
$19.79 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do document controllers rate their job?

5/5

Based on 1 ratings

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Document controller reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

The position lets me use my skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. My original training was as a newspaper copy-editor, a "dying" field. Document Control in biotech gave me the opportunity to use those skills in a field which is growing and which pays better.

Cons

Biotech field is volatile. Most other departments have high changeover in personnel. Frequent changes in policy / expectations due to changes in management and ownership. The company I work for has been bought and sold twice to larger companies in my fifteen years here.


profile
5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Pros

You get bits of information about many fields and across departments

Cons

There is no room for careless mistakes


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
Pros

Consistency in creating the formats or templates of any documents. Proofreading any documents.

Cons

Nothing in particular.


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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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