How much does a database administrator make?
a year · about $50 an hour
A typical database administrator in the United States makes $104,620 a year, about $50 an hour, about 2.1× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check screens for slow or broken databases, fix problems, install updates, and decide who can see sensitive records. They test changes, protect data, and help coworkers get the information they need.
Did you know? At the U.S. Department of the Interior, database staff plan both “hot” and “cold” backups—two kinds of safety copies to help recover important data.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $60,230 and $163,320How do you become one?
In the U.S., people usually study computer science, IT, or a related subject for a bachelor’s degree after high school and learn SQL. Many gain related work experience first, and some employers require certification for their database software, so there is no single starting age.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like keeping things organized and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can vary with experience and certifications for the database software an employer uses; some employers require them. Industry, location, and whether a DBA specializes in system or application databases also matter. Most work full time, so hours can affect total yearly pay.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Utah ($135,750), lowest in Kentucky ($87,390).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
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Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $60,230 | $104,620 | $163,320 | about 70,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | $135,750 | about 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $129,300 | about 2,000 |
| New Jersey | $125,860 | about 2,000 |
| Maryland | $124,300 | about 2,000 |
| District of Columbia | $118,540 | about 560 |
Official definition: 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. Excludes “Information Security Analysts” (15-1212) and “Database Architects” (15-1243).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/database-administrators.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1242.00
- www.onetonline.org/skills/zone/15-1242.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2022/may/oes151242.htm
- www.doi.gov/ocio/customers/database-administration
- www.cisa.gov/careers/work-rolesdatabase-administrator
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY