SOC 15-1242.00

    Database Administrators

    Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems.

    Median pay
    $104,620
    Growth
    -0.1%
    Little or no change
    Openings a year
    3,300
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $60,230
    Median
    $104,620
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $163,320
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    69,990 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Database administrators manage, test, and secure computer databases to keep systems running smoothly. The career offers a median annual pay of $104,620, with top earners making over $163,320.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What database administrators do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    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.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    People in this career focus on the daily operation and health of database management systems. They coordinate updates, investigate performance bottlenecks, and resolve capacity and scalability issues. To protect sensitive information, they also plan and set up security measures.

    This role is highly conventional and requires a strong focus on computers, electronics, and technology. Day-to-day tasks involve gathering information, analyzing data, and solving complex problems. Administrators must think critically and creatively to evaluate whether systems meet established standards. Because they coordinate changes across teams, strong communication skills, active listening, and the ability to build positive working relationships are essential. Success in this field relies on work styles like attention to detail, dependability, cautiousness, and intellectual curiosity.

    How to get there

    Entering this field typically requires a bachelor's degree along with several years of related work experience. Students often prepare by majoring in computer and information sciences, computer software and media applications, or computer and information technology administration and management.

    To build their credentials, professionals can pursue various industry certifications. Options include the Big Data Foundation Certification, Cloud Technology Associate Certification, and the Certified Ethical Emerging Technologist credential. Other relevant certifications are the Certified Data Professional - Associate, the Data Governance and Stewardship Professional - Foundation, and the Data Governance and Stewardship Professional - Associate/Practitioner.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for database administrators is $104,620. Earnings range from under $60,230 for the lowest 10% of workers to more than $163,320 for the highest 10%.

    There are 69,990 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to experience little or no change, with a slight decline of -0.1%. Despite this flat growth, about 3,300 job openings are expected to become available each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    31 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    64 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    3 / 100
    Social (S)
    22 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    32 / 100
    Conventional (C) · strongest
    94 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code CIE. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Working with Computers
    96
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    80
    Getting Information
    78
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    78
    Analyzing Data or Information
    75
    Processing Information
    73
    Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    72
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    71
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    69
    Thinking Creatively
    68
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Critical Thinking
    • Active Listening
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Active Learning
    • Programming
    • Speaking
    • Monitoring
    • Writing

    Knowledge

    • Computers and Electronics
    • English Language
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Mathematics
    • Telecommunications
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Administration and Management
    • Education and Training
    • Design
    • Economics and Accounting

    Abilities

    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Information Ordering
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Near Vision
    • Oral Expression
    • Category Flexibility
    • Written Expression

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Integrity
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Adaptability
    • Perseverance
    • Initiative
    • Tolerance for Ambiguity

    Also called

    Administrator (Admin) · Automatic Data Processing Planner (ADP Planner) · Cyber Database Administrator (Cyber DBA) · Data Administrator (Data Admin) · Data Engineer · Data Management Associate · Data Management IT Specialist (Data Management Information Technology Specialist) · Data Miner · Data Recovery Planner · Data Security Administrator

    Career pathway

    From your interests to database administrators

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Database Administrators$104,620 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1University of Pennsylvania UPENN logo
      University of Pennsylvania UPENN

      Philadelphia, PA · Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $143,850
      4 yrs after
      $241,380
      Median debt
      $11,000
    2. 2Johns Hopkins University logo
      Johns Hopkins University

      Baltimore, MD · Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $118,344
      4 yrs after
      $196,467
      Median debt
      $7,625
    3. 3Yale University logo
      Yale University

      New Haven, CT · Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $180,081
      4 yrs after
      $188,157
      Median debt
      $15,500
    4. 4Carnegie Mellon University logo
      Carnegie Mellon University

      Pittsburgh, PA · Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $137,154
      4 yrs after
      $187,437
      Median debt
      $19,870
    5. 5Rice University logo
      Rice University

      Houston, TX · Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $156,465
      4 yrs after
      $182,443
      Median debt
      $8,375
    6. 6Wellesley College logo
      Wellesley College

      Wellesley, MA · Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $105,692
      4 yrs after
      $177,213
      Median debt
      $6,500
    7. 7University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus logo
      University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus

      Ann Arbor, MI · Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $127,472
      4 yrs after
      $172,904
      Median debt
      $19,250
    8. 8Northeastern University logo
      Northeastern University

      Boston, MA · Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $124,222
      4 yrs after
      $163,708
      Median debt
      $19,500

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What database administrators may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work. Showing 12 of 13.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Computer and Information Sciences, General
    • Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance
    • Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about database administrators

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for database administrators?

    People in this field are also called database architects, data engineers, cyber database administrators, data recovery planners, or data security administrators.

    What college majors are most relevant to this career?

    Students typically major in computer and information sciences, computer software and media applications, or computer and information technology administration and management.

    What is the job outlook and annual opening projection for this role?

    Employment is projected to change by -0.1% from 2025 to 2035, which represents little or no change. However, the field is still expected to have 3,300 openings each year.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.