Database Administrator

Career Overview

Database administrators design, develop and administer data management solutions using database management software. They make sure that users have access to data, and they protect data from those who shouldn't have access to it.

Education

A four-year bachelor's degree in management information systems, computer science, information technology, or a related field is generally required to obtain this position. A higher degree (master's) in a related field, which may take an additional two-three years to earn, would be more valuable and may be necessary to obtain positions in some organizations.

Future Outlook

Employment of database administrators is projected to grow 10 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth in this occupation will be driven by the increased data needs of companies in nearly all sectors of the economy.

Work Environment

Typically, most database administrators work for computer systems design, database hosting, and data processing firms.

Recommended High School Courses

Computer Programming
Computer Science
Business
Communication

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operations Analysis - Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Programming - Writing computer programs for various purposes.
Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speed of Closure - The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Assess database performance.
Modify software programs to improve performance.
Implement security measures for computer or information systems.
Develop computer or information security policies or procedures.
Update computer database information.
Create databases to store electronic data.
Develop database parameters or specifications.
Write computer programming code.
Coordinate project activities with other personnel or departments.
Develop guidelines for system implementation.
Develop performance metrics or standards related to information technology.
Read documents to gather technical information.
Estimate time or monetary resources needed to complete projects.
Train others in computer interface or software use.
Coordinate software or hardware installation.
Develop detailed project plans.
Analyze data to identify trends or relationships among variables.
Analyze market or customer related data.
Develop models of information or communications systems.

Schools

Adelphi University

Allegheny College

Alvernia University

American Intercontinental...

American University

Angelo State University

Appalachian State Univers...

Arcadia University

Arizona State University

Arkansas Tech University

Assumption College

Auburn University

Augustana University

Austin College

Baker College Online

Bard College

Barnard College

Baylor University

Bellevue University

Belmont University

Beloit College

Bemidji State University

Bentley University

Berea College

Bethel University

Bethel University (indian...

Biola University

Birmingham Southern Colle...

Bismarck State College

Bluefield State College-...

Bob Jones University

Boise State University

Boston College

Boston University

Bowdoin College

Bowling Green State Unive...

Bradley University

Brandeis University

Brescia University

Cal Poly Pomona

Carnegie Mellon Universit...

Central Washington Univer...

Clemson University

East Central University -...

Eastern Florida State Col...

Fairleigh Dickinson Unive...

Fayetteville State Univer...

Florida Institute Of Tech...

Florida Polytechnic Unive...

Fontbonne University

George Mason University

Georgia Institute Of Tech...

Hillsborough Community Co...

Iḷisaġvik College

James Madison University

Johns Hopkins University

New College Of Florida

New Jersey Institute Of T...

New York University

Northeastern University

Palm Beach State College-...

Pennsylvania State Univer...

Providence College

Purdue Polytechnic Instit...

Rice University

Rutgers University- New B...

Suny Plattsburgh

University Of California-...

University Of Maine- Fort...

University Of Maryland- C...

University Of Pennsylvani...

University Of Texas- Aust...

University Of Washington-...

University Of Wisconsin-...

Virginia Tech

Yale University

Algoma University- Bra...

Athabasca University

Bishop's University

Canadian Business Coll...

Carleton University

Cdi College- Winnipeg...

Nova Scotia Community...

St. Francis Xavier Uni...

Universite De Montreal...

University Of Alberta

University Of British...

University Of Waterloo

Potential Scholarships

5 Strong Scholarship

Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...

Approx Salary Expectation

Currency:

Low End:

$51,800.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$93,750.00 /yr

High End:

$148,060.00 /yr

Related Careers

IT Director

Database Administrator

Computer Support Specialists

UX (User Experience) Designer

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.