Database administrators (DBAs) work with technology, using specialized types of software to store and organize a company’s data. This could include a variety of information, from confidential financial numbers, to payroll data, to customer shipping records.

A DBA makes sure that data is available to users, and that it’s kept secure from unauthorized access or accidental loss or corruption.

Database Administrator Job Description

Database administrators (DBAs) have a variety of duties and tasks, such as the following:

Responsibility for the evaluation of database software purchasesSupervision of modifications to any existing database software to meet the needs of their employerResponsibility for maintaining the integrity and performance of company databasesMust guarantee that data is stored securely and optimallyInforming end users of changes in databases and train them to utilize systemsEnsuring the security of company data

A DBA’s skills and technical expertise are desirable to many organizations, with the highest demand being in data-intensive organizations like insurance, finance, and content providers.

Database Administrator Salary

A database administrator’s salary varies based on the area of expertise, level of experience, education, certifications, and other factors.

Median Annual Salary: $93,750Top 10% Annual Salary: More than $148,060Bottom 10% Annual Salary: Less than $51,800

Education, Training & Certification

A DBA must have a minimum of a four-year college degree in a related field and relevant experience, as follows:

Education: A bachelor’s degree in information technology or computer science Certifications: Advanced education and certifications are required to work as a database administrator. Obtaining a certification specializing in various database management systems is not required, but very helpful. Experience: Many employers require three to five years of database experience, in addition to educational requirements.

Database Administrator Skills & Competencies

Here’s a list of database administrator skills that employers seek in candidates for employment. Skills will vary based on the job for which you’re applying:

Analytical skills: DBAs must monitor the database performance and evaluate complex information coming from a variety of sources.Communication skills: Most DBAs work on teams and must communicate effectively with managers, developers, and other workers.Detail-oriented: Working with a database requires the administrator to have an understanding of complex systems, and how a minor error can cause major problems. For example, if customer credit card information gets mixed up, it can cause people to be charged for purchases they didn’t make.Problem-solving skills: When problems come up, administrators must troubleshoot them and resolve the problems.

Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for database administrators are expected to grow by 10% from 2019 to 2029, faster than the 4% expected average growth for all occupations.

Demand has been driven by the trend for decision making in most organizations to become progressively more data-driven.

The expansion of cloud computing as a storage option for organizations has also supported increased demand for database experts.

Work Environment

Some DBAs work to manage databases for retail companies that use them to keep track of their customers’ credit card and shipping details. Other DBAs work for companies such as healthcare businesses and manage systems containing patients’ medical records.

Work Schedule

The vast majority of database administrators work full time.

How to Get the Job

FIND AN INTERNSHIP: Get guidance by working with an experienced database administrator. You can find internships through your school’s career center or online job search sites. PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWS: Brush up your resume to highlight relevant skills and previous experience. Prepare a cover letter to send with your resume using this DBA cover letter example. APPLY: Look at job-search resources like Indeed.com, Monster.com, and Glassdoor.com for available positions. You can also visit company websites directly to locate job openings, and attend industry events to meet potential hiring managers.

Comparing Similar Jobs

 People interested in a database administrator career also consider the following career paths, listed with their median annual salaries:

Computer network architect: $112,690 Computer programmer: $86,550 Computer & information systems manager: $146,360

Database administrators (DBAs) work with technology, using specialized types of software to store and organize a company’s data. This could include a variety of information, from confidential financial numbers, to payroll data, to customer shipping records.

A DBA makes sure that data is available to users, and that it’s kept secure from unauthorized access or accidental loss or corruption.

Database Administrator Job Description

Database administrators (DBAs) have a variety of duties and tasks, such as the following:

Responsibility for the evaluation of database software purchasesSupervision of modifications to any existing database software to meet the needs of their employerResponsibility for maintaining the integrity and performance of company databasesMust guarantee that data is stored securely and optimallyInforming end users of changes in databases and train them to utilize systemsEnsuring the security of company data

A DBA’s skills and technical expertise are desirable to many organizations, with the highest demand being in data-intensive organizations like insurance, finance, and content providers.

Database Administrator Salary

A database administrator’s salary varies based on the area of expertise, level of experience, education, certifications, and other factors.

Median Annual Salary: $93,750Top 10% Annual Salary: More than $148,060Bottom 10% Annual Salary: Less than $51,800

Education, Training & Certification

A DBA must have a minimum of a four-year college degree in a related field and relevant experience, as follows:

Education: A bachelor’s degree in information technology or computer science Certifications: Advanced education and certifications are required to work as a database administrator. Obtaining a certification specializing in various database management systems is not required, but very helpful. Experience: Many employers require three to five years of database experience, in addition to educational requirements.

Database Administrator Skills & Competencies

Here’s a list of database administrator skills that employers seek in candidates for employment. Skills will vary based on the job for which you’re applying:

Analytical skills: DBAs must monitor the database performance and evaluate complex information coming from a variety of sources.Communication skills: Most DBAs work on teams and must communicate effectively with managers, developers, and other workers.Detail-oriented: Working with a database requires the administrator to have an understanding of complex systems, and how a minor error can cause major problems. For example, if customer credit card information gets mixed up, it can cause people to be charged for purchases they didn’t make.Problem-solving skills: When problems come up, administrators must troubleshoot them and resolve the problems.

Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for database administrators are expected to grow by 10% from 2019 to 2029, faster than the 4% expected average growth for all occupations.

Demand has been driven by the trend for decision making in most organizations to become progressively more data-driven.

The expansion of cloud computing as a storage option for organizations has also supported increased demand for database experts.

Work Environment

Some DBAs work to manage databases for retail companies that use them to keep track of their customers’ credit card and shipping details. Other DBAs work for companies such as healthcare businesses and manage systems containing patients’ medical records.

Work Schedule

The vast majority of database administrators work full time.

How to Get the Job

FIND AN INTERNSHIP: Get guidance by working with an experienced database administrator. You can find internships through your school’s career center or online job search sites. PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWS: Brush up your resume to highlight relevant skills and previous experience. Prepare a cover letter to send with your resume using this DBA cover letter example. APPLY: Look at job-search resources like Indeed.com, Monster.com, and Glassdoor.com for available positions. You can also visit company websites directly to locate job openings, and attend industry events to meet potential hiring managers.

Comparing Similar Jobs

 People interested in a database administrator career also consider the following career paths, listed with their median annual salaries:

Computer network architect: $112,690 Computer programmer: $86,550 Computer & information systems manager: $146,360

Database administrators (DBAs) work with technology, using specialized types of software to store and organize a company’s data. This could include a variety of information, from confidential financial numbers, to payroll data, to customer shipping records.

A DBA makes sure that data is available to users, and that it’s kept secure from unauthorized access or accidental loss or corruption.

Database Administrator Job Description

Database administrators (DBAs) have a variety of duties and tasks, such as the following:

Responsibility for the evaluation of database software purchasesSupervision of modifications to any existing database software to meet the needs of their employerResponsibility for maintaining the integrity and performance of company databasesMust guarantee that data is stored securely and optimallyInforming end users of changes in databases and train them to utilize systemsEnsuring the security of company data

A DBA’s skills and technical expertise are desirable to many organizations, with the highest demand being in data-intensive organizations like insurance, finance, and content providers.

Database Administrator Salary

A database administrator’s salary varies based on the area of expertise, level of experience, education, certifications, and other factors.

Median Annual Salary: $93,750Top 10% Annual Salary: More than $148,060Bottom 10% Annual Salary: Less than $51,800

Education, Training & Certification

A DBA must have a minimum of a four-year college degree in a related field and relevant experience, as follows:

Education: A bachelor’s degree in information technology or computer science Certifications: Advanced education and certifications are required to work as a database administrator. Obtaining a certification specializing in various database management systems is not required, but very helpful. Experience: Many employers require three to five years of database experience, in addition to educational requirements.

Database Administrator Skills & Competencies

Here’s a list of database administrator skills that employers seek in candidates for employment. Skills will vary based on the job for which you’re applying:

Analytical skills: DBAs must monitor the database performance and evaluate complex information coming from a variety of sources.Communication skills: Most DBAs work on teams and must communicate effectively with managers, developers, and other workers.Detail-oriented: Working with a database requires the administrator to have an understanding of complex systems, and how a minor error can cause major problems. For example, if customer credit card information gets mixed up, it can cause people to be charged for purchases they didn’t make.Problem-solving skills: When problems come up, administrators must troubleshoot them and resolve the problems.

Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for database administrators are expected to grow by 10% from 2019 to 2029, faster than the 4% expected average growth for all occupations.

Demand has been driven by the trend for decision making in most organizations to become progressively more data-driven.

The expansion of cloud computing as a storage option for organizations has also supported increased demand for database experts.

Work Environment

Some DBAs work to manage databases for retail companies that use them to keep track of their customers’ credit card and shipping details. Other DBAs work for companies such as healthcare businesses and manage systems containing patients’ medical records.

Work Schedule

The vast majority of database administrators work full time.

How to Get the Job

FIND AN INTERNSHIP: Get guidance by working with an experienced database administrator. You can find internships through your school’s career center or online job search sites. PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWS: Brush up your resume to highlight relevant skills and previous experience. Prepare a cover letter to send with your resume using this DBA cover letter example. APPLY: Look at job-search resources like Indeed.com, Monster.com, and Glassdoor.com for available positions. You can also visit company websites directly to locate job openings, and attend industry events to meet potential hiring managers.

Comparing Similar Jobs

 People interested in a database administrator career also consider the following career paths, listed with their median annual salaries:

Computer network architect: $112,690 Computer programmer: $86,550 Computer & information systems manager: $146,360

Database administrators (DBAs) work with technology, using specialized types of software to store and organize a company’s data. This could include a variety of information, from confidential financial numbers, to payroll data, to customer shipping records.

A DBA makes sure that data is available to users, and that it’s kept secure from unauthorized access or accidental loss or corruption.

Database Administrator Job Description

Database administrators (DBAs) have a variety of duties and tasks, such as the following:

  • Responsibility for the evaluation of database software purchasesSupervision of modifications to any existing database software to meet the needs of their employerResponsibility for maintaining the integrity and performance of company databasesMust guarantee that data is stored securely and optimallyInforming end users of changes in databases and train them to utilize systemsEnsuring the security of company data

A DBA’s skills and technical expertise are desirable to many organizations, with the highest demand being in data-intensive organizations like insurance, finance, and content providers.

Database Administrator Salary

A database administrator’s salary varies based on the area of expertise, level of experience, education, certifications, and other factors.

A DBA’s skills and technical expertise are desirable to many organizations, with the highest demand being in data-intensive organizations like insurance, finance, and content providers.

A DBA’s skills and technical expertise are desirable to many organizations, with the highest demand being in data-intensive organizations like insurance, finance, and content providers.

  • Median Annual Salary: $93,750Top 10% Annual Salary: More than $148,060Bottom 10% Annual Salary: Less than $51,800

Education, Training & Certification

A DBA must have a minimum of a four-year college degree in a related field and relevant experience, as follows:

  • Education: A bachelor’s degree in information technology or computer science
  • Certifications: Advanced education and certifications are required to work as a database administrator. Obtaining a certification specializing in various database management systems is not required, but very helpful.
  • Experience: Many employers require three to five years of database experience, in addition to educational requirements.

Database Administrator Skills & Competencies

Here’s a list of database administrator skills that employers seek in candidates for employment. Skills will vary based on the job for which you’re applying:

  • Analytical skills: DBAs must monitor the database performance and evaluate complex information coming from a variety of sources.Communication skills: Most DBAs work on teams and must communicate effectively with managers, developers, and other workers.Detail-oriented: Working with a database requires the administrator to have an understanding of complex systems, and how a minor error can cause major problems. For example, if customer credit card information gets mixed up, it can cause people to be charged for purchases they didn’t make.Problem-solving skills: When problems come up, administrators must troubleshoot them and resolve the problems.

Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for database administrators are expected to grow by 10% from 2019 to 2029, faster than the 4% expected average growth for all occupations.

Demand has been driven by the trend for decision making in most organizations to become progressively more data-driven.

The expansion of cloud computing as a storage option for organizations has also supported increased demand for database experts.

Demand has been driven by the trend for decision making in most organizations to become progressively more data-driven.

Demand has been driven by the trend for decision making in most organizations to become progressively more data-driven.

Work Environment

Some DBAs work to manage databases for retail companies that use them to keep track of their customers’ credit card and shipping details. Other DBAs work for companies such as healthcare businesses and manage systems containing patients’ medical records.

Work Schedule

The vast majority of database administrators work full time.

How to Get the Job

FIND AN INTERNSHIP: Get guidance by working with an experienced database administrator. You can find internships through your school’s career center or online job search sites. PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWS: Brush up your resume to highlight relevant skills and previous experience. Prepare a cover letter to send with your resume using this DBA cover letter example. APPLY: Look at job-search resources like Indeed.com, Monster.com, and Glassdoor.com for available positions. You can also visit company websites directly to locate job openings, and attend industry events to meet potential hiring managers.

Comparing Similar Jobs

 People interested in a database administrator career also consider the following career paths, listed with their median annual salaries:

How to Get the Job

FIND AN INTERNSHIP: Get guidance by working with an experienced database administrator. You can find internships through your school’s career center or online job search sites. PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWS: Brush up your resume to highlight relevant skills and previous experience. Prepare a cover letter to send with your resume using this DBA cover letter example. APPLY: Look at job-search resources like Indeed.com, Monster.com, and Glassdoor.com for available positions. You can also visit company websites directly to locate job openings, and attend industry events to meet potential hiring managers.

FIND AN INTERNSHIP: Get guidance by working with an experienced database administrator. You can find internships through your school’s career center or online job search sites.

PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWS: Brush up your resume to highlight relevant skills and previous experience. Prepare a cover letter to send with your resume using this DBA cover letter example.

APPLY: Look at job-search resources like Indeed.com, Monster.com, and Glassdoor.com for available positions. You can also visit company websites directly to locate job openings, and attend industry events to meet potential hiring managers.

  • Computer network architect: $112,690
  • Computer programmer: $86,550
  • Computer & information systems manager: $146,360