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Careers›Roles›Data Support Specialist
Mid-Level

Data Support Specialist

When a report breaks or a dataset looks wrong, you're who gets called, troubleshooting data systems, fixing problems, and supporting the people who depend on the numbers. The help desk for everything data.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
I
C
R
E
A
S
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Data Support Specialists
Energy & UtilitiesProfessional Services · 33%Government · 25%Education · 13%Healthcare · 9%Financial Services · 4%
Job markets for Data Support Specialists
Employment concentration · ~87 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Technology
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Data Support Specialist

The day runs on tickets and troubleshooting: investigating data issues, fixing broken reports or feeds, answering user questions, and documenting fixes. You sit between data systems and the people who use them, often the one who finds why a number looks wrong. Much of the craft is diagnosis and clear communication, translating a vague complaint into the real problem.

What surprises people is the breadth and the constant interruption: you handle varied problems and switch context often, under time pressure. Tools and systems keep evolving, and the role's scope varies widely. It spans support, light analysis, and data administration, each blending differently depending on where you land.

It fits someone patient, analytical, and good with both data and people. If you want deep focus or to build rather than support, the interruptions can grind. But if you like solving concrete data problems and helping people, and the satisfaction of getting someone's broken report working again, the work tends to reward it, and can open toward analytics or engineering.

What people in this role value
IndependenceAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
RelationshipsModerate
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$112K+9%
Professional Services$101K-2%
Energy & Utilities$88K-15%
Wholesale & Distribution$85K-17%
Government$80K-22%
Compared to Technology average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Data Support Specialists (SOC 15-2041.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Technology →
Data Support SpecialistData Science EngineerMarketing Data ScientistData AnalystDatabase AnalystData ModelerFinancial AnalystData SpecialistStatistical AnalystData CoordinatorPsychometric ConsultantQuantitative MethodologistClinical AnalystStatistical ProgrammerSurvey StatisticianDemographerStatisticianSports StatisticianApplied StatisticianStatistical EngineerResearch StatisticianData Analyst SpecialistData Science SpecialistTime Study StatisticianEducation Research Analyst
Exploring the Data Support Specialist career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

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.

$60K–$171K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
30K
U.S. Employment
+8.5%
10yr Growth
2K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$80K$77K$74K$71K$68K201920202021202220232024$68K$80K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

MathematicsReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningActive LearningWritingScienceJudgment and Decision Making
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
15-2041.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

directorData Operations Director$171KdirectorData Center Product Director$109KdirectorClinical Data Management Director (CDM Director)$113KmidData Science Engineer$113KmidMarketing Data Scientist$113KmidData Analyst$92K
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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.