Careers / Database Administrators

Database Administrators — Career Decision Dashboard

United States

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Median annual wage

$104,620

United States, 2025

Employment

69,990

United States, 2025

Typical education

Bachelor's Degree

Job Zone 4

Skills identified

35

10 related careers

Career overview

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
Experience required
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years

Typical tasks

  • 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.

Choose a location

Salary analysis — United States

$60,230
10th
$79,610
25th
$104,620
Median
$135,460
75th
$163,320
90th

10th percentile

$60,230

25th percentile

$79,610

75th percentile

$135,460

90th percentile

$163,320

Most important skills

  • Critical Thinking3.9
  • Complex Problem Solving3.9
  • Reading Comprehension3.8
  • Active Listening3.8
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.8
  • Active Learning3.5
  • Programming3.4
  • Speaking3.4
  • Writing3.3
  • Monitoring3.3
  • Operations Analysis3.1
  • Systems Analysis3.1

What skills do you need?

Select the skills you already have

Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.

Skill coverage

0%

0 of 17 identified skills

Matched

0

Missing

17

Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.

Skills to develop

SkillImportanceRequired levelYour levelGap
Complex Problem Solving3.94.1Not selected4.1
Reading Comprehension3.84.3Not selected4.3
Critical Thinking3.94.0Not selected4.0
Judgment and Decision Making3.84.0Not selected4.0
Active Listening3.83.9Not selected3.9
Active Learning3.54.1Not selected4.1
Programming3.43.9Not selected3.9
Speaking3.43.9Not selected3.9
Writing3.33.9Not selected3.9
Monitoring3.33.9Not selected3.9
Systems Evaluation3.14.0Not selected4.0
Systems Analysis3.13.9Not selected3.9
Instructing3.03.8Not selected3.8
Mathematics3.03.5Not selected3.5
Operations Analysis3.13.3Not selected3.3
Learning Strategies3.03.3Not selected3.3
Coordination3.03.1Not selected3.1

Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.

Related careers

How salary varies by location

LocationMedianEmploymentYear
San Jose, CA$138,6205802025
UT$135,7501,2002025
Seattle, WA$133,1801,0102025
Boston, MA$132,3701,9102025
San Luis Obispo, CA$130,780602025
MA$129,3002,3102025
Provo, UT$129,0101602025
Fort Collins, CO$128,780602025
San Francisco, CA$127,7601,4702025
NJ$125,8601,8102025
Bridgeport, CT$125,7602002025
Vallejo, CA$125,600302025
Tampa, FL$124,5606702025
MD$124,3002,3002025
Oxnard, CA$124,0401102025
Nashville, TN$123,9207502025
Austin, TX$123,8301,1102025
Baltimore, MD$123,7301,1902025
Trenton, NJ$123,4901702025
Raleigh, NC$122,9505102025
All locations with published data

Career transition paths

Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Database Administrators to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.

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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0.

Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).

Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.