What is a data technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Dr. Shaon Ghosh

A data technician is an individual who specializes in managing, organizing, and analyzing data. They work with various technologies to collect, store, and retrieve data for businesses or organizations. Typically, their responsibilities include developing databases, creating data reports, and ensuring the accuracy of data. Additionally, data technicians may be involved in identifying patterns or trends within the data to provide insights into business operations. Their work is essential to ensure businesses make informed decisions.

What general advice would you give to a Data Technician?

Dr. Shaon Ghosh

Assistant Professor of Physics, Montclair State University

The advantage of working in a new, and potentially revolutionary, field is that there will be ample opportunities, but that also brings in a lot of competition. To remain relevant and to thrive in such fields we need to continuously update ourselves to the changing landscape of the field. Updating and adapting to changes in the field one is working in is a no-brainer, but it is especially relevant here because the field is going to rapidly change over the next decade; keeping ourself updated takes a bit of effort. So, the best advice to graduating students starting their career in data science or similar fields is not to stop being a "student".

Another important thing to remember is that most technical fields are highly collaborative, more so in the post-COVID-19 world where people have understood the value and concept of working remotely. Remote participation takes collaboration to a much higher level. We in the scientific research community have gotten used to it long ago, but it is a relatively new concept in many other areas. So, there are a few adjustments that one should be mindful of, especially if you are a recent graduate.

We often tend to operate as individuals at school where we are more concerned about our own grades and our own performances, but the value of you as a professional is very much dependent on how your team members perceive you. Are you the person who folks in your team are going to reach out to when they need some help? If you are, then you are more likely to rise to prominence and to the ranks of leadership.

ScoreData TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.3

Avg. Salary $41,834

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.5

Growth Rate 7%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.98%

Asian 10.46%

Black or African American 9.58%

Hispanic or Latino 16.93%

Unknown 5.68%

White 56.36%

Gender

female 38.76%

male 61.24%

Age - 35

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 - 35

Stress Level

6.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.6

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 Data Technician?

Pros

High demand for data technicians
Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology
Good salary and benefits
Opportunities for growth and advancement
Ability to make a significant impact on a company's success

Cons

Can be stressful and deadline-driven work
Requires high level of attention to detail
Potential for long hours or overtime
Constantly changing technology can require continuous learning and adaptation
May require working with sensitive or confidential information

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Key steps to become a data technician

Explore data technician education requirements

Most common data technician degrees

Bachelor's

45.1 %

Associate

27.9 %

High School Diploma

14.6 %

Start to develop specific data technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Data Entry	11.42%
Java	9.60%
Data Management	6.51%
Data Collection	5.93%
Access Database	5.39%

Complete relevant data technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New data technicians 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 data technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real data technician resumes.

Gain additional data technician certifications

Data technician 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 data technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for data technicians include Network 5 Certification and Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

More About Certifications

Research data technician duties and responsibilities

Manage MDF for all incoming, outbound circuits, cross connects and patches
Manage high profile government DOD datacenter relocation projects.
Manage the day-to-day operations of telecommunication services utilize by DuPont.
Manage network reliability, capacity and performance in conjunction with RF engineering establish guidelines.

Prepare your data technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your data technician 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 data technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Data Technician Resume templates

Build a professional Data Technician 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 Data Technician resume.

Apply for data technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a data technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams