The person who keeps an organization's data accurate, organized, and usable — managing databases, cleaning records, building reports, and being the go-to for anything data-related. The keeper of a company's information.
The work mixes data entry and cleaning with reporting and database upkeep — maintaining quality, pulling information people ask for, and keeping records consistent. You support teams across the business, often the unsung reason reports can be trusted. Much of the value is in the accuracy nobody notices until it's wrong and everything downstream goes sideways.
The honest reality is the work can be repetitive and behind-the-scenes — cleaning messy data and fielding requests rarely makes headlines. Scope varies enormously by organization, from pure data entry to light analysis and database administration. Tools shift, and the role can be broad and loosely defined, meaning you may wear several hats at once on a given day.
It tends to fit someone meticulous, organized, and comfortable being the dependable backbone. If you want visibility or fast-moving variety, the behind-the-scenes nature may not satisfy. But if you take quiet pride in clean, reliable data — and being the person everyone trusts to get it right — the role can suit, and often opens into deeper data work.
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Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
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Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths
View all Technology roles →The person who keeps an organization's data accurate, organized, and usable — managing databases, cleaning records, building reports, and being the go-to for anything data-related. The keeper of a company's information.
Median pay for a Data Specialist is about $117K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $60K to $210K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Mathematics, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, and Speaking.
Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 16.9% through 2034, with roughly 328,010 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Data Operations Director, Data Center Product Director, and Senior Data Specialist.
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