Document Management Specialists
Machines can already do 63% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 88%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Document Management Specialists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 63% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 31% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 88% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 435,370 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $116,580 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 63% for contact with people.
- Also called: Business Records Manager, Certified Document Imaging Architect, Document Control Manager, Document Management Consultant.
- Competency here means how well the best AI model, tool or robot available can do a task, scored out of 100: today using the best available now, and for later years the 311 prediction of what AI and robots will be able to do.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administer document and system access rights and revision control to ensure security of system and integrity of master documents | 9% | 84% to 97% | |
| Develop or configure document management system features, such as user interfaces, access profiles, and document workflow procedures | 8% | 81% to 97% | |
| Consult with end users regarding problems in accessing electronic content | 8% | 35% to 65% | |
| Identify and classify documents or other electronic content according to characteristics such as security level, function, and metadata | 7% | 65% to 92% | |
| Implement electronic document processing, retrieval, and distribution systems in collaboration with other information technology specialists | 5% | 85% to 97% | |
| Develop, document, or maintain standards, best practices, or system usage procedures | 5% | 60% to 90% | |
| Assist in determining document management policies to facilitate efficient, legal, and secure access to electronic content | 4% | 50% to 85% | |
| Assist in the development of document or content classification taxonomies to facilitate information capture, search, and retrieval | 4% | 58% to 88% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills document management specialists use most, most used first.
Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace
How much document management specialists rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, medium confidence.
- Go-to problem solver6/10
- Trust and reliability8/10
- Know-how about the organisation9/10
- Network and relationships5/10
- Mentoring and developing others5/10
- Culture and morale4/10
- Initiative beyond the role5/10
- Calm in a crisis4/10
- Bridge between teams5/10
- Reputation and influence4/10
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
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- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary60% of tasks by 2035 · US median $75,870
- Security Managers60% of tasks by 2035 · US median $106,660
- Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products76% of tasks by 2035
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Document Management Specialists?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of document management specialists?
Machines can do 63% of the tasks of document management specialists today and 88% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 15-1299.03 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring, forecast and human value: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (human value scores are 311 estimates, medium confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Document Management Specialists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/document-management-specialists/