How to Become a Database Administrator
Administer, test, and implement database systems, ensuring data integrity, security, and performance. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $104,620 per year and declining projected job growth.
Median pay
$104,620/yr
Middle half
$79,610 to $135,460
Job growth
Declining
Openings / yr
3,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- SQL
- Database Design
- Performance Tuning
- Backup and Recovery
- Data Security
Helpful certifications
- Oracle Certified Professional
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator
- AWS Database Specialty
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
82/100
Work-life balance
72/100
Stress level
38/100
Satisfaction
70/100
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- Data Scientist$120,230 median
- IT Project Manager$116,580 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Database Administrator make?
The median pay for a Database Administrator is $104,620 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $79,610 and $135,460 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Database Administrator?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Computer Science, Information Technology, Management Information Systems, and Data Science.
Is Database Administrator a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is declining (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 3,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Database Administrator use most?
Common skills for this role are SQL, Database Design, Performance Tuning, Backup and Recovery, and Data Security.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).