Jobs in Electronic Data Processing: Salary and Career Facts

<p>Electronic data processing is a broad career field that encompasses many job titles in a number of industries. If you go into the electronic data processing field, you may end up becoming a financial database operator, a medical database operator, or a database manager. Financial database operators must have at least a bachelor's degree; if they are accountants, they should also have a certification to become a CPA. Medical database operators organize and manage the health records of patients. Certification in health information is preferred for getting a job. A database manager will do things like ensure the security of organizational data, back up data, and merge old and new databases. </p> <p>The table below lists some quick career facts about three areas of electronic data processing. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> </th><th> Financial Database Operators </th><th> Medical Database Operators </th><th> Database Managers</th></tr> <tr><td><b>Degree Required</b></td><td> Bachelor's </td><td> Associate's </td><td> Bachelor's</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Education Field of Study</b></td><td> Accounting, internal auditing </td><td> Health information technology </td><td> Information systems management</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Key Responsibilities</b></td><td> Maintain and process data from ledgers and accounts </td><td> Input and process billing and patient information data </td><td> Become the residential expert in the data analysis software used, identify software needs and ensure the security of the data stored on the data base</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b></td><td> 7% (for accountants and auditors)* </td><td> 9% (for medical records and health information technicians)* </td><td> 8% (for database administrators)*</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td> $73,560 (for accountants and auditors)* </td><td> $45,240 (for medical records and health information technicians)* </td><td> $98,860 (for database administrators)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatIsElectronicDataProcessing">What is Electronic Data Processing?</h3> <p>Electronic data processing is a broad term that refers to any position wherein an individual uses automated or technical means to manipulate data. When you work in the field of electronic data processing, you may be responsible for collecting, recording, analyzing and manipulating data. If you work in management, you may oversee the software or computer systems used to input and process data for a particular company or organization. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatTypesOfJobsAreAvailableInTheField">What Types of Jobs Are Available in the Field?</h3> <p>Various businesses, such as banks, have a need for professional data processing managers and technicians. They may need to hire an electronic data processor manager to maintain and process data from ledgers and accounts. As an electronic data processor for a medical facility or insurance company, you are responsible for inputting and processing billing and patient information data. You might also work for an individual business or corporation by helping to maintain the security of sensitive data under the supervision of a chief information officer. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatEducationOrTrainingMightINeed">What Education or Training Might I Need?</h3> <p>If you are interested in becoming an electronic data processing manager or a computer information systems manager, you might consider earning a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field. In a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management degree program, you take courses in computer science, programming, mathematics and management and business principles </p> <p>A community college may offer certificate or associate degree programs for aspiring data entry keyers and technicians. You may take courses in practical instruction related to data processing, such as inputting figures and numbers and working with spreadsheets and databases. You learn about computer operating systems and office equipment. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatSalaryCouldIExpectToEarn">What Salary Could I Expect to Earn?</h3> <p>The salary of those working in electronic data processing depends on the job position and industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accountants and auditors, two types of financial database operators, earned a median salary of $73,560 in 2020. In that same year medical records and health information technicians, a department of medical database operators, earned a median salary of $45,240, and database administrators earned a median salary of $98,860. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3> <p>If you like the idea of working in electronic data processing, you might also consider a career as an electronic data interchange (EDI) coordinator or systems analyst. EDI coordinators make sure that the communication amongst those using EDI tools for production is smooth. They also perform system auditing and work closely with IT staff. A bachelor's degree in a technology-related field is usually required. Systems analysts must be creative with finding solutions for businesses and their clients, seeking to fix problems in the most efficient ways. A degree in a technology field is preferred.</p>