Database Administrators Career, Salary and Skills
Database Administrators have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $104,620 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 69,990. Wage data is published for 247 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
15-1242.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$104,620
Hourly median
$50.30
Employment
69,990
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.75 | 4.25 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Active Learning | 3.50 | 4.12 |
| Programming | 3.38 | 3.88 |
| Speaking | 3.38 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.88 |
| Writing | 3.25 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes.
Technology
- Ab Initio
- Access management software
- Acronis Recovery Expert
- ADO.NET
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Advanced business application programming ABAP
- AJAX
- Amazon Data Pipeline
- Amazon DynamoDB
- Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2
- Amazon Redshift
- Amazon Simple Storage Service S3
- Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
Database Administrators salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Database Administrators Salary in CAMedian $113,060 · Employment 7,240
- Database Administrators Salary in TXMedian $114,400 · Employment 6,430
- Database Administrators Salary in VAMedian $93,320 · Employment 5,940
- Database Administrators Salary in FLMedian $104,120 · Employment 3,810
- Database Administrators Salary in Washington, DCMedian $108,750 · Employment 3,730
- Database Administrators Salary in New York, NYMedian $121,550 · Employment 3,630
- Database Administrators Salary in NYMedian $105,900 · Employment 3,590
- Database Administrators Salary in GAMedian $106,810 · Employment 2,460
- Database Administrators Salary in PAMedian $100,110 · Employment 2,450
- Database Administrators Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $122,390 · Employment 2,430
- Database Administrators Salary in ILMedian $104,650 · Employment 2,340
- Database Administrators Salary in MAMedian $129,300 · Employment 2,310
Related careers
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- Web DevelopersNational median $92,650
- Computer and Information Systems ManagersNational median $175,140
- Computer User Support SpecialistsNational median $61,860
- Computer Network ArchitectsNational median $134,050
- Web and Digital Interface DesignersNational median $104,000
- Computer Network Support SpecialistsNational median $76,220
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersNational median $104,300
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.