What is the Average Document Control Manager Salary?
According to Glassdoor, the median document control manager salary is $85,000.
Let’s find out more about the wage and the elements affecting it.
Career Outlook for a Document Control Manager
With some years of professional experience, document control managers can move forward to more serious roles. For example, they can progress towards a document controller role or become a specialist. After more years in the role and managing more serious duties, a document control manager can become a document control specialist or a documentation specialist.
The average compensations for more senior positions on the technical writer career path (as per Glassdoor and reported in March 2025) are given below:
Document Controller
A document controller is responsible for an organization’s numerical analyses and ensures these analyses follow proper documentation guidelines. They are a part of its accounting department and create reports and long-term financial plans. The average annual pay for the document controller role is $61,014, which requires at least two to four years of experience.
Document Control Specialist
The document control specialist has a senior role in handling an organization’s compliance with federal and state government regulations. The average total compensation for this position is $65,044 annually, requiring more than four years of professional experience in the field.
Documentation Specialist
The documentation specialist in an organization overlooks all of its official documentation and paperwork. They must be well-versed with compliance guidelines and need significant experience handling more serious duties than a regular document control manager. The average annual pay for the role amounts to $67,893.
Top Paying Cities for Document Control Managers
As per ZipRecruiter, the cities with the top base salaries for document control manager positions, categorized by location in the U.S., are given below.
U.S. West Coast
- Phoenix: $55,309
- Los Angeles: $106,609
U.S. Midwest/Rocky Mountains
- Chicago: $46,564
- Detroit: $57,329
U.S. East Coast
- New York: $108,244
U.S. South
- Atlanta: $95,147
- New Orleans: $55,615
Education Level for Document Control Manager Role
The document control manager is better compensated than other roles due to the weight of their duties and the skills required for the role. Therefore, the document control manager must have appropriate qualifications and certifications to handle their responsibilities.
The document control manager role requires a bachelor’s in the industry. Additionally, they must have solid written skills since they handle all compliance documentation.
Certifications can help document control managers specialize in a specific skill or area of their industry. It allows individuals to attract well-paying roles.
- TechnicalWriterHQ: They have diverse writing certifications that help sharpen your writing abilities and build a strong portfolio.
- Consepsys: They offer a document control certification exam that affirms the credibility of your skills as a document control manager.
- CfPIE: Their certification can make you a ‘Document Management Certified Professional’ and open the doors for many exciting professional opportunities.
Document Control Manager Salary Across Top Companies
As per Glassdoor, here is the annual average document control manager salary in some of the top firms across different industries.
- Beats Electronic: $153,000
- Mitsubishi Electric Power Products: $109,000
- Universal Orlando Resort: $77,000
- Bechtel: $98,823
- Parsons Corporation: $109,000
Document Control Specialist Salary in the United States
In most businesses, the role of Document Control Specialist is full-time employment; however, specific organizations may recruit document control experts on a contract or part-time basis. Meanwhile, some businesses hire independent document control experts to manage the organization’s documents. In any event, depending on the organization and sector, these occupations are likely to differ somewhat. As a result, you can come across multiple similar jobs with different job titles and the same job description.
As a result of the greater need for complicated technical expertise, technical writers working in STEM-related organizations tend to earn more.
Furthermore, the findings will vary because employment portals use various wage resources to acquire compensation data related to the target job title. As a result, it’s critical to look at other sites like Glassdoor, Comparably, Payscale, Indeed, and Zippia to understand wage ranges better.
Glassdoor
Glassdoor is a well-known website that provides pay estimates and ratings. Employees may submit anonymous yearly pay reports, rate their bosses, and include perks, cost of living estimates, labor statistics, and total compensation figures.
According to Glassdoor, the national median salary for the median document control specialist is $74,187 in the United States. Between $58,000 and $94,000 is the average salary range.
Furthermore, by adding more criteria to Glassdoor, you may compare various wage estimates. By using the following filters, you may narrow down your search for your next job even further:
- First, decide on your industry or want to work in.
- Next, determine the company’s approximate size based on the total number of workers.
- Finally, fill in the whole year’s experience for the role.
Using the parameters above, you can narrow down your search and better estimate the pay of a document control specialist based on your requirements.
Authorities make their calculations based on salary records submitted by individuals. Some firms, though, do publish their pay on occasion.
Comparably
Another famous job site is Comparably. You can create a profile, sign up for jobs, and learn about the base salary of the target profession.
How Much Does a Document Control Specialist Make?
In the United States, Document Control Specialists earn $56,357 per year. Document Control Specialists make the most in San Jose, with an average total pay of $111,270, 97% higher than the national average.
Salary Ranges for Document Control Specialists
Document Control Specialist salaries in the United States vary from $27,218 to $231,899.
How Much Tax Will You Have to Pay as a Document Control Specialist?
In 2023, the average federal tax rate for an individual filer in this tax band was expected to be 22 percent. As a result, document Control Specialists might anticipate taking home $56,357/year after federal taxes, with each paycheck equaling around $4,969.
Indeed
Indeed is a third website worth mentioning. It is one of the most popular job search engines in the United States, with millions. However, based on the number of positions advertised online, it’s also an excellent location to get fair wage estimates.
The average salary for a document control specialist is $52,597 per year in the United States and $1,800 profit sharing per year. Three thousand nine hundred wages were reported, updated on January 21, 2025.
Salary Satisfaction
60% of Document Controllers in the United States think their salaries are enough for the cost of living in their area.
Payscale
Fourth, Payscale is a website worth mentioning. It is a dedicated website for getting salary data, estimates, total compensation values, specific benefits, cost of living estimates, gender-based pay estimates, and other pay-related information. You can easily find the information that you need about Document Control Specialists.
The average hourly pay for a Document Control Specialist is $20.43. Therefore, the salary for an average Document Control Specialist is $60,617 per year in the United States.
What Is the Pay by Experience Level for Document Control Specialists?
Based on 36 salaries, an entry-level Document Control Specialist with less than one year of experience can expect to make an average total compensation of $16.45. Based on 448 salaries, an early career Document Control Specialist with 1-4 years of experience gets a full average payment of $18.19. Based on 272 salaries, a mid-career Document Control Specialist with 5-9 years of experience receives an average total compensation of $21.36. Based on 255 salaries, an experienced Document Control Specialist with 10-19 years of experience gets a full average payment of $21.83. Finally, employees in their late careers receive an average total compensation of $24. Also a high school diploma can change the pay.
Zippia
Zippia is an online platform helping job seekers find career opportunities and career advice and democratizes access to every aspect of the job search process.
- The average median salary for a Document Control Specialist in the United States is $39,044.
- The average hourly wage for a Document Control Specialist is $18.77.
- The average starting pay for a Document Control Specialist is $25,000.
- California ($46,111), Nevada ($42,545), Massachusetts ($46,111), and Rhode Island ($46,111) are the states with the highest-paying document control specialists.
- The highest-paying cities for Document Control Specialists are Redwood City, California ($46,686); Framingham, Massachusetts; Phoenix, Arizona; Austin, Texas; and Piscataway, New Jersey.
- Document Control Specialists at the bottom of the pay scale earn around $25,000 annually, while those in the top 10% make $56,000.
- The highest-paid 25% earned $46,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% earned $31,000.
- The highest-paying industries for Document Control Specialists are Health Care, Pharmaceutical, and Construction.
FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about a Document Control Manager’s salary.
What factors influence a document control manager’s salary?
Several factors influence a document control manager’s salary, including experience, industry, company size, and location. Those with extensive project management experience and control systems expertise tend to earn higher wages. Working in highly regulated industries that require strict adherence to quality standards can also impact compensation.
Is a bachelor’s degree required to become a document control manager?
While not always mandatory, employers often prefer a bachelor’s degree in business administration, engineering, or a related field. This educational background can provide essential knowledge in documentation processes, compliance, and regulatory requirements, contributing to career advancement and salary potential.
How does project management experience impact salary?
Project management experience can significantly increase a document control manager’s earning potential. This skill set enhances efficiency in handling documentation workflows, meeting compliance requirements, and ensuring smooth collaboration across teams—all of which employers value.
Do industry and company size affect salary?
Yes, salaries vary depending on the industry and company size. Larger organizations and enterprises with strict quality standards, such as healthcare, aerospace, and manufacturing, often offer higher salaries due to the complexity of their documentation processes and compliance requirements.
What career growth opportunities exist for document control managers?
With experience, document control managers can advance into senior roles overseeing control systems and broader document governance strategies. Additional certifications and expertise in regulatory compliance can further enhance career prospects and earning potential.
