Data Processing Technicians
Overview
Introduction
Data processing technicians use computers to manage and store information. They provide complex and detailed information necessary for daily office operations in business and government. They use computers to organize and analyze data, perform mathematical calculations, and provide data for some scientific or engineering design problems. Data processing technicians work with many different kinds of professionals including information scientists; systems analysts; information processing engineers; and engineering, scientific, and bus...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Salaries for data processing technicians vary based on such factors as the type and size of employer, the area of the country in which the technician works, and the technician's experience. Additionally, salaries in the technology field change rapidly due to the economic fluctuations of this industry. In general, however, data processing technicians earned average salaries of $49,835 in 2019, a...
Work Environment
Computer equipment functions best in air-conditioned, dust-free office areas, so most technicians work in comfortable surroundings.
A technician's workweek usually does not exceed 40 hours. During computer emergencies and periods of heavy workloads, however, technicians may be required to work overtime. Some technicians may work on a shift basis if operations run 24 hours per day.
Outlook
As computers, software, and programming techniques are refined, many programming tasks become routine and automated or are eliminated altogether. This trend is significantly reducing opportunities for workers with two-year degrees in the data processing field. In addition, competition for jobs among graduates of technical programs is increasing as more beginning programmers enter the job market...