Career Definition of a Document Management Specialist
A document management specialist is typically employed by an organization to manage all of their documents and records electronically. Some of their responsibilities could include creating new policies and procedures that deal with document storage, sharing, sending, and destruction. They may evaluate existing management systems and procedures in order to assess how effective and efficient they are and update accordingly. A document management specialist may be employed to create a new system from the ground up, as well.
These professionals often need to be knowledgeable about laws regarding document management to make sure their company or organization is in compliance and operating legally. They work with individuals who are using the system to make sure they are able to send and access documents without a problem and may be involved in troubleshooting any issues. Because much of what a document management specialist does on a daily basis involves computer and technology, having familiarity with various types of computer software is helpful in this career field.
| Educational Requirements | Bachelor's degree |
| Job Skills | Analytical skills, organizational skills, technical skills |
| Median Salary (2020)* | $92,870 (for computer occupations, all other) |
| Job Outlook (2020-2030)* | 9% (for computer occupations, all other) |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Required Education
To become a document management specialist, having a bachelor's degree is a pretty standard requirement, as over half of these professionals in this role had this type of degree as of 2020, according to the BLS. However, there are employers for a number of positions that would also consider job seekers with an associate's degree or a post-secondary certificate. Applicants from a number of undergraduate backgrounds could qualify for this position, though because the nature of this job requires working with computers and technology, individuals who have a background in IT or systems management may be viewed more favorably.
Required Skills
To be a successful document management specialist, it is important to have a strong organizational ability and analytical thinking skills, as some of your main responsibilities will involve creating innovative ways of storing and managing documents. Other key skills that will aid in your success include strong writing and reading comprehension skills, along with the ability to creatively solve problems. You also will likely be communicating with other office workers as well as users of the document management system, so it is important to have good communication and interpersonal skills. Some of these professionals may also take on management roles, in which case having management and administrative abilities would be helpful.
Career and Salary Outlook
Document management specialists fall under the broader category of 'computer occupations, all other.' In 2020, the median salary in this category was $92,870 annually. The field is expected to grow 9% from 2020 to 2030, which is as fast as the average for all occupations, states the BLS.
Related Careers
There are a number of careers that individuals with an interest in document management specialist positions may also want to consider pursuing. A few of them are listed below.
