Document specialist vs document controller

The differences between document specialists and document controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a document specialist and a document controller. Additionally, a document controller has an average salary of $41,157, which is higher than the $39,044 average annual salary of a document specialist.

The top three skills for a document specialist include clinical documentation, patients and customer service. The most important skills for a document controller are project procedures, data entry, and sharepoint.

Document specialist vs document controller overview

	Document Specialist	Document Controller
Yearly salary	$39,044	$41,157
Hourly rate	$18.77	$19.79
Growth rate	9%	-8%
Number of jobs	23,728	16,705
Job satisfaction	5	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

What does a document specialist do?

Documentation specialists are responsible for managing office documents and developing a long-term storage strategy. They have varied responsibilities, including organizing, storing and retrieving records, and training other staff members on practical documentation usage. It is also their job to proofread and remove obsolete documents, utilizing storage applications and software. There are several requirements needed to be qualified for this position, including a communications degree, excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, and excellent verbal and written communication.

What does a document controller do?

Document controllers take responsibility for controlling the day-to-day management of documents in a department or company. The controllers make sure that document management is accurate, efficient, and always on time. They do control numbers, sort, file, store, and retrieve hard copy and electronic documents. They ensure that the documents undergo legal, security, and regulatory compliance. The skills necessary for this job include computer software program proficiency, analytical experience, data organization knowledge, and typing skills.

Document specialist vs document controller salary

Document specialists and document controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Document Specialist	Document Controller
Average salary	$39,044	$41,157
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $62,000	Between $26,000 And $63,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Hayward, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Adobe	Jacobs Engineering Group
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Construction

Differences between document specialist and document controller education

There are a few differences between a document specialist and a document controller in terms of educational background:

	Document Specialist	Document Controller
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Stanford University

Document specialist vs document controller demographics

Here are the differences between document specialists' and document controllers' demographics:

	Document Specialist	Document Controller
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 29.0% Female, 71.0%	Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between document specialist and document controller duties and responsibilities

Document specialist example 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.
Lead complete overhaul of documentation design, look, and feel using hone FrameMaker templates.
Deploy and manage dynamic training plans, forms, and records, in ERP and paper-base system.

Document controller example 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.
Create and implement the RFI process within the project.
Maintain log for RFI's (request for information )

Document specialist vs document controller skills

Common document specialist skills

Clinical Documentation, 15%
Patients, 13%
Customer Service, 8%
Data Entry, 7%
DRG, 6%
PowerPoint, 5%

Common document controller skills

Project Procedures, 9%
Data Entry, 9%
SharePoint, 8%
Hard Copy, 7%
Computer Database, 7%
Project Management, 5%

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Document Specialist vs Document Controller

Updated January 8, 2025

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