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Technology career
Database Administrator
Also called: DBA · Database Engineer · SQL Administrator · Data Platform Administrator
What database administrators do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a database administrator do?
Database administrators install, configure, secure, back up and tune databases, making sure organizations’ data is available, accurate and protected. The median pay is $104,620 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 4 years plus experience, and employment is projected to grow -0.1% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$104,620$50.30/hour · May 2025
- Job growth-0.1%2025–35, little or no change
- Openings per year3,300Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBLS classification
- Time to train4 years plus experienceTypical program length
- U.S. jobs75,000Employment, 2025
What database administrators do
Database administrators keep the data behind every application running smoothly. They install and upgrade database software, design backup and recovery plans, monitor performance, tune queries, manage user access and security, and support developers. Many now manage cloud databases as well as on-premises systems.
Most DBAs have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information systems and experience in IT or development. Certifications in Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL or cloud platforms help. The work requires careful attention, because mistakes can mean lost data or downtime.
Typical duties
- Install, configure and upgrade databases
- Plan and test backups and recovery
- Monitor and tune performance
- Manage user access and security
- Apply patches and updates
- Support developers with design and queries
- Plan capacity and migrations
Work environment and schedule
DBAs work in offices or remotely, at computers, with some after-hours work for maintenance and emergencies.
Schedule: Most work full-time, with on-call rotations and weekend maintenance windows.
A day in the life
- Check overnight backup jobs and monitoring alerts.
- Investigate a slow report and add an index.
- Review access requests and update user permissions.
- Plan a migration of a database to the cloud.
See a full day in the life of a database administrator →
Database Administrator salary
Half of database administrators earned more than $104,620 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $60,230 for the lowest 10% to $163,320 for the top 10%.
Full database administrator pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a database administrator
- Learn SQL and databases
- Earn a degree
- Start in IT or development
- Earn certifications
- Advance
A bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems or a related field is typical. Many DBAs start as developers, analysts or system administrators.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a database administrator →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- SQL
- Database platforms (SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL)
- Backup and recovery
- Performance tuning
- Security and access control
People skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving
- Calm under pressure
- Communication
All database administrator skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Good pay
- Critical, respected role
- Remote-friendly
- Cloud skills in demand
Cons
- On-call and maintenance windows
- High responsibility for data
- Stressful outages
- Must keep up with new platforms
Certifications and licenses
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate: Certification for SQL Server and Azure databases.
- Oracle Database Administration Certified Professional: Oracle DBA credential.
- PostgreSQL certification: Credentials for PostgreSQL administration.
- CompTIA DataSys+: Vendor-neutral database administration certification.
Career path
- Junior DBA or Data Analyst: Learn database operations.
- Database Administrator: Manage databases.
- Senior DBA: Lead complex environments.
- Data Architect or Data Platform Manager: Design data systems.
Learn the job before day one
Our Database Administrator training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as test a database restore and tune a slow query, safety and how to land your first job.
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Database Administrator FAQ
Do DBAs need a degree?
Usually, though experience can substitute.
Are DBA jobs declining?
Overall employment is flat, but cloud database skills are in demand.
Do DBAs work on call?
Many do, plus weekend maintenance.
How much does a database administrator make?
The median annual wage for database administrators was $104,620 ($50.30 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $60,230 and the highest 10% earned more than $163,320.
How long does it take to become a database administrator?
Most people need about 4 years plus experience of training. A bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems or a related field is typical. Many DBAs start as developers, analysts or system administrators.
Do you need a degree to be a database administrator?
Usually. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as typical, but some DBAs move up from IT support or development roles with certifications and hands-on database experience.
More database administrator questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 15-1242 (Database administrators).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Database administrators (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.