Salary guide
Database Administrator Salary & Pay Scale (2026)
What database administrators earn per year, per hour and per month, with the full percentile range, the factors that move pay and how to earn more.
The median database administrator salary in the U.S. is $104,620 per year, or $50.30 per hour, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $60,230, while the top 10% earned more than $163,320.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
Database Administrator pay scale
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly* | What it usually reflects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,230 | $28.96 | Typical for new workers, part-time markets and lower-paying settings |
| 25th percentile | $79,610 | $38.27 | Early career, a year or two of experience |
| Median (50th) | $104,620 | $50.30 | Mid-career: half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $135,460 | $65.13 | Experienced workers, specialists and higher-paying employers |
| 90th percentile | $163,320 | $78.52 | Top earners: senior, specialized, supervisory or high-cost areas |
*Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. Percentile descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees.
Monthly and biweekly pay
| Pay period | At 25th percentile | At median | At 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per year | $79,610 | $104,620 | $135,460 |
| Per month | $6,634 | $8,718 | $11,288 |
| Every two weeks | $3,062 | $4,024 | $5,210 |
| Per week | $1,531 | $2,012 | $2,605 |
Gross pay before taxes and deductions.
What affects database administrator pay
- Specialization (security and cloud skills typically pay more)
- Certifications such as CompTIA, Cisco, AWS or Google
- Portfolio quality and real project experience
- Location and remote-work eligibility
- Geography and cost of living: metropolitan areas and some states pay well above the national median
How to earn more as a database administrator
- Get credentialed: Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, Oracle Database Administration Certified Professional, PostgreSQL certification.
- Build specialty experience: Manage databases.
- Move up: roles such as senior dba and data architect or data platform manager typically pay more.
- Negotiate: research local pay and use our salary negotiation guide.
Database Administrator pay vs. related careers
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of database administrators to change by -0.1% from 2025–35, little or no change compared with the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 3,300 openings are projected each year, on average, including openings to replace workers who retire or change occupations.
About this data
Figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), which covers wage and salary workers nationwide under SOC code 15-1242 (“Database administrators”). Wages exclude self-employment income, overtime and most bonuses unless they are part of regular pay. We refresh these numbers when BLS releases new estimates each spring.
Database Administrator salary FAQ
How much does a database administrator make per hour?
The median hourly wage for database administrators was $50.30 in May 2025 (BLS). Hourly pay for the lowest 10% was about $28.96 and the top 10% earned about $78.52 or more.
How much does a database administrator make a month?
At the median annual wage of $104,620, that works out to about $8,718 per month before taxes, or about $4,024 every two weeks.
What is the starting salary for a database administrator?
New database administrators often start near the lower end of the range. The 10th percentile was $60,230 and the 25th percentile was $79,610 per year in May 2025. Starting pay depends on location, employer and credentials.
How can database administrators earn more?
Common ways include earning Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate and Oracle Database Administration Certified Professional, gaining specialty experience, taking shifts or roles with premium pay, and moving up the career ladder to roles such as senior dba.
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.