Database Administrator Career Information

ComputerA database administrator, also known as a DBA, is responsible for managing a company’s internal database. This includes data security, organization, storage, and retrieval. Specialized roles include database designers, performance database administrators, and application database administrators.

What skills do you need to become a database administrator?

If you’re planning to become a database administrator, you’ll need strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Because you’re in charge of a company’s most important asset, you should also have good communication and teaching skills. You’ll need to convey important data security measures to the rest of the company, and you’ll need to educate them on how to use and protect data themselves. You should also be able to multitask and manage your time well; you’ll be busy, and priorities can shift quickly. Detail orientation is important, too, as you’ll be dealing with data all day long.

What experience and/or certifications do you need to be a database administrator?

While most database administrators have a bachelor’s idea, some do not. Database administrators graduate with a variety of majors, but computer science, information systems, and information security are the most common. Before applying to a database administrator role, you’ll need to know all the basics: how to install, configure, and upgrade database software, and how to back up and recover that data if anything goes wrong. You definitely want to polish your SQL skills and know your data monitoring tools, too. Finally, you should brush up on popular managements platforms, such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, IBM DB2, and PostgreSQL.

Internships can help you hone your skill set and stand out from the competition. While certification is not usually necessary, it can help build credibility and up your odds of future promotions. Most certifications are linked to specific platforms (listed above), so it’s up to you to choose your platform of choice.

What companies and industries employ database administrators?  

Computer design firms, educational institutions, and insurance companies are most likely to employ database administrators. The majority of database administrators find jobs in major US cities, including New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

What is the job outlook and salary for database administrator roles?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for database administrators is projected to grow 9% over the next decade, which is faster than average. The average database administrator makes a median annual wage of $90,070.