Your Database Administrator Career Guide

More and more companies are using data management systems to inform decisions, produce products, and target specific audiences every day. Advances in business intelligence (BI) technology have improved the collection and analysis of data dramatically. The way companies interpret and store data is critical—which is where the role of a database administrator comes in.

Starting a career as a database administrator requires a combination of educational credentials, workplace and technical skills, hands-on experience, and continued professional development. It's a popular career choice with a higher-than-average salary, a promising career outlook, and opportunities for advancement [1].

What is the job outlook for database administrators?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), database administrators have an expected 8 percent growth between 2022 and 2032, which is about average. This equates to around 10,200 positions per year [1]. Career progression is possible, with many database administrators becoming database architects.

What is a database administrator?

Database administrators are responsible for setting up the database structure and applications according to the company's needs. These needs typically include data storage, database documentation, database security, and system administration. This ensures the organization and accessibility of data for companies' strategic gain and the protection of sensitive data. Quick access to critical information is vital for customer service, compliance, and use in business development.

What does a database administrator do?

The role of a database administrator varies according to the industry you work in and the type of data you're managing, but typically, you'll have the following duties:

• Identifying user needs and the appropriate database tools such as database management software

• Considering the need for storage space, network requirements, and memory when designing database architecture

• Planning for database development, database installation, and continued database maintenance

• Updating database systems, associated servers and applications

• Creating user profiles and managing access and permissions for database servers

• Completing regular functionality tests to measure database performance

• Creating database backups and recovery systems to ensure organizational data is secure

• Monitoring technical support of databases and documenting complex issues

• Using the database to produce queries for business intelligence reports

Database administrator job description

Database administration calls on a combination of workplace and technical skills to build and manage databases and work with staff who need access. These include:

Technical skills

• Knowledge of computer operating systems

• Microsoft Access

• Oracle

• HTML

• SQL

• Linux

• Java

• Unix

• Sybase

Workplace skills

• Attention to detail

• Ability to prioritize

• Logical thinking

• Detail-oriented

• Problem-solving ability 

• Highly organized

• Excellent communication skills

• Analytical approach 

Database administrator roles

Many database administrators work in-house, looking after internal databases for a specific company. However, specialties also exist within database administration, breaking the role down into areas focused on by different people. These generally fall into three categories:

1. Database design and creation

The first specialty involves creating and designing databases to suit the user's needs. This includes using SQL, coding and tuning. These people usually work for a technology or software development company as part of a team that can create larger systems of which the database is a part. Relevant job titles include database specialist and database analyst.

2. Database monitoring and system administration

The second specialty is performance database administration, which concerns optimizing the performance of databases and making tweaks to improve performance. The role is proactive because it focuses on improving performance to avoid problems. Relevant job titles include database administrator, systems administrator, and management information systems (MIS) administrator.

3. Database applications and environment

The last specialty is application database administration, which concentrates on integrating applications into databases. This backend work requires the use of a query language such as SQL. Application database administrators also write and debug programs and maintain applications. Relevant job titles include database programmer, database software developer, and database engineer.

What is it like working in database administration?

Database administration spans industries, so work in this field comes with many choices. You may work in retail, health care, hospitality, or research, to name a few. According to US News, database administrator ranked as the seventh-best technology job [2] and comes with a good salary, career advancement, and work-life balance. 

Where do database administrators work?

Being a database administrator can be rewarding but also challenging, with a high responsibility for sensitive data and a need to follow data protection laws. US News scores database administration a six out of 10 for work-life balance and a four for stress [2]. The role is usually a full-time, office-based position, often as part of an IT team. As the career is ever-changing as technology evolves, the role can be exciting, and being adaptable is essential. 

Database administrator salary 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average database administrator's annual salary is $99,890 [1], which is above average. The top 10 percent in the role earn more than $153,870 per year [1]. 

The database administrator career path

Requirements for these roles vary depending on industry, company, and location. Sixty-one percent of database administrators have a bachelor's degree, 15 percent have an associate degree, and 13 percent have a master's degree [3]. Relevant areas of study include business, computer science, accounting, and computer information systems. Demonstrating your ability to use specific software and have technical skills beyond what's taught in a degree is essential. Many companies ask for training or certification in the database software used in their organization.

Read more: What Is a Bachelor’s Degree? Requirements, Costs, and More

Gaining IT experience

Database administrators must demonstrate specific technical skills and hold a degree and certifications. These skills can be from a previous position, such as an entry-level job like data entry or another IT role. You'll need experience to start your career before you can work up to managing sensitive data.

Read more: Entry-Level IT Jobs and What You Need to Get Started

Earning database administrator certifications

The value placed on database administrator certifications is high. More than a degree and experience are required as companies want to know that you have relevant database management skills and can use the appropriate database languages. Certification in the right software, management system, or language can set you apart, even if it isn’t a requirement.

Employers sometimes provide on-the-job training and expect database administrators to engage in professional development. The following list contains some certificate programs and online training you may want to pursue:

• Oracle Certified Professional (OCP)

• IBM Data Science Fundamentals with Python and SQL Specialization

• Oracle Autonomous Database Administration

• Computer Service Technician (CST)

• IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate

• Microsoft Certified Database Administrator

• Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate

• IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 9 Fundamentals

• IBM Relational Database Administration (DBA)

Take the next step in your data administration career with Coursera

If you’re looking to begin your career as a database administrator, starting with some courses and certifications is a great first step. You can develop a foundation in database management with IBM's Data Science Professional Certificate or Database Management Essentials offered by the University of Colorado on Coursera to launch your database management career.