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Database Administrator

$104,620
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Organize, secure, and maintain the databases that store an organization's information, keeping them running fast.

Where you work

Offices or remote; at a desk, most of the day at a screen.

The hours

Full-time; on-call for outages, some nights and weekends.

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$104,620
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~3,800
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
-1%
Little change
Working in the U.S.
coming soon

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Degree plus real SQL depth.

License or certification

No license required; vendor certifications are valued.

What it takes

Analytical thinkingAttention to detailProblem solvingCommunication

The honest take

Data never stops growing — and someone has to keep it alive.

Standard Occupational Classification 15-1242. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.