Database Administrators
Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.
Also called: Database Administration Manager · Database Administrator (DBA) · Database Analyst · Database Coordinator · Database Engineer · Database Manager
Median pay (national)
$104,620
$56,820–$160,890 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
73,180
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-0.7%
~3,800 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for database administrators shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $160,890 versus $56,820 at the bottom 10% — 2.8x. The median of $104,620 leaves roughly 54% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -0.7% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 3,800 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, New Jersey pays the most for this role (median $128,970, +23% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $49,210 — a 162% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Amazon Redshift, Amazon Web Services AWS software, Apache Airflow, Apache Hadoop as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
- Speaking
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes.
- Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification or disclosure.
- Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance.
- Specify users and user access levels for each segment of database.
- Test changes to database applications or systems.
- Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications.
- Train users and answer questions.
- Provide technical support to junior staff or clients.
- Approve, schedule, plan, and supervise the installation and testing of new products and improvements to computer systems, such as the installation of new databases.
- Develop standards and guidelines for the use and acquisition of software and to protect vulnerable information.
Tools & technology
- Amazon Redshift
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Apache Airflow
- Apache Hadoop
- Apache Kafka
- Apache Spark
- Atlassian JIRA
- Git
- GitHub
- IBM Terraform
- Informatica software
- Kubernetes
- Linux
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Azure Data Factory
- Microsoft Azure software
Knowledge areas
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Telecommunications
- Engineering and Technology
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training