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What is a document specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A document specialist manages and organizes documents for businesses or organizations. They ensure the proper formatting, editing, and storage of documents for easy access. Document specialists may also create new documents, perform quality checks, and manage document databases. They typically work in office settings and use a variety of software programs to perform their tasks. Overall, they aim to make sure that documented information remains organized and readily available for those who need it.

ScoreDocument SpecialistUS Average
Salary
3.1

Avg. Salary $39,044

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.8

Growth rate 9%

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 70.99%

male 29.01%

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
7.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a document specialist?

Pros

  • Chance to develop specialized skills in document management software

  • Potential for high pay and job security

  • Opportunity to work remotely or part-time

  • Ability to work independently and manage own workload

  • Potential for advancement within the organization

Cons

  • Can be tedious work, involving repetitive tasks

  • Possible long hours and tight deadlines

  • Can involve working with sensitive or confidential information

  • Difficult to quantify the impact of work on the overall business

  • Can be seen as a support role rather than a strategic one

Document specialist career paths

Key steps to become a document specialist

  1. Explore document specialist education requirements

    Most common document specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    51.0 %

    Associate

    21.4 %

    High School Diploma

    11.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific document specialist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Clinical Documentation14.81%
    Patients12.99%
    Customer Service7.92%
    Data Entry6.84%
    DRG5.94%
  3. Complete relevant document specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New document 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 document specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real document specialist resumes.
  4. Gain additional document specialist certifications

    Document specialist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific document specialist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for document specialists include Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) and Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research document specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage files, medical records and major customers requiring IPRO services.
    • Manage the migration of the entire documentation set from FrameMaker to DITA.
    • Lead the transition from paper charts to electronic medical records and the transition to ICD-10.
    • Manage archiving process of sending all complete clinical studies TMF document to off-site archiving center.
  6. Prepare your document specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your document specialist 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 specialist 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 specialist resume templates

    Build a professional document specialist 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 specialist resume.
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  7. Apply for document specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a document specialist 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 specialist job

Zippi

Are you a document specialist?

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Average document specialist salary

The average document specialist salary in the United States is $39,044 per year or $19 per hour. Document specialist salaries range between $24,000 and $62,000 per year.

Average document specialist salary
$39,044 Yearly
$18.77 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do document specialists rate their job?

5/5

Based on 2 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Document specialist reviews

profile
5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

Expressing and detailing the facts about a defect or incident is challenging. I had to use all senses to arrive at a factual conclusion. It is satisfying and rewarding when you arrive at the truth and root of the matter.

Cons

Deception and non cooperation throws a wrench into you efforts.


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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
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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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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