What degree do you need to become a clinical data manager?

A bachelor's degree or higher is needed to be a clinical data manager. In addition, to have the right educational background, a clinical data manager usually must start as a data analyst and eventually move into a manager role with enough experience and competency.

What qualifications do you need to be a data manager?

The qualifications needed to be a data manager are an extensive understanding of statistics and data management tools and languages needed for working with large data sets. In addition, a data manager needs to create a diverse team that is flexible and able to adapt to new methodologies.

What is a data manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Joseph Byrum

A data manager oversees the collection, organization, and analysis of large sets of data. They ensure that data remains accurate, secure, and accessible. Data managers often work in healthcare, finance, and technology. Their duties include developing and implementing data management policies, maintaining databases, and monitoring quality. They also collaborate with data analysts and IT specialists to ensure proper data analysis and organization. Overall, a data manager helps organizations make informed decisions based on reliable data.

What general advice would you give to a Data Manager?

Joseph Byrum

Chief Data Scientist, Principal

The next revolution will happen when every aspect of a business, from top to bottom, is designed with AI and OR in mind. Call this new construct the intelligent enterprise. A joint cognitive system view is the first step in creating the intelligent enterprise - a large, complex organization with global distribution of its resources and processes run by people who make consistently excellent adaptations to rapid changes in the world. They also share the execution of these rapid adaptations seamlessly across the entire organization without loss of consistency and coherence.

ScoreData ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.8

Avg. Salary $108,359

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

8.6

Growth Rate 16%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

1.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.21%

Asian 12.71%

Black or African American 6.57%

Hispanic or Latino 9.87%

Unknown 5.19%

White 65.46%

Gender

female 51.98%

male 48.02%

Age - 47

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 - 47

Stress Level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.7

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

6.1

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Data Manager?

Pros

High demand for data managers in various industries
Good salary and benefits
Possibility for career advancement
Ability to work remotely or with flexible schedules
Possibility for international projects and collaborations

Cons

Long hours and tight deadlines during certain projects
Heavy reliance on technology, which can occasionally fail or malfunction
Risk of errors or inaccuracies that can have significant consequences for the company
Potential for repetitive tasks and tedious work
Potential for stress due to the high stakes nature of the job

Key steps to become a data manager

Explore data manager education requirements

Most common data manager degrees

Bachelor's

62.3 %

Master's

16.4 %

Associate

12.4 %

Start to develop specific data manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Data Analysis	7.18%
Visualization	6.30%
Data Quality	5.73%
Data Collection	4.41%
Project Management	4.37%

Complete relevant data manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New data managers 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 manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real data manager resumes.

Gain additional data manager certifications

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

The most common certifications for data managers include Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) and Project Management Professional (PMP).

More About Certifications

Research data manager duties and responsibilities

Manage all Salesforce customer tech support inquiries.
Use of SalesForce and CRM for leads tracking.
Manage internal department & team initiatives including QA and documentation work.
Manage the profiling and cleansing of legacy data to new data structures.

Prepare your data manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your data manager 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 manager 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 Manager Resume templates

Build a professional Data Manager 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 Manager resume.

Apply for data manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a data manager 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

How do data managers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Data Manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2021

Cons

Juggling multiple tasks and projects was always a constant struggle. I also felt very frustrated at times working with third party vendors and consultants remotely.

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019

Pros

I like to tell tell people that a be manager a room to maltreat people under you. Also like been humble even though I am heading people because they can contribute ideas that makes you Excel in your position