Computer Occupations

How to become a Database Administrator

Official title: Database Administrators

Also called: Database Administration Manager, Database Administrator (DBA), Database Analyst, Database Coordinator, Database Engineer, Database Manager, Development and Database Administration Manager, IS Admin (Information Systems Administrator), Systems Administrator (Systems Admin)

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.

Main tasks

Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes.
Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification or disclosure.
Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance.
Specify users and user access levels for each segment of database.
Test changes to database applications or systems.
Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications.
Train users and answer questions.
Provide technical support to junior staff or clients.

How to become one

Database administrators and architects typically need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Database Administrator (Nof).
College: Computing & IT degrees, Offered by 34 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $104,620 a year The middle half earn $79,610 to $135,460.
About 75,000 people work in this job now, and about 74,900 are projected by 2035. (-0.1%)
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Database Administrator?

Database administrators and architects typically need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field.

How much does a Database Administrator earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $104,620 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $79,610 to $135,460.

Is a Database Administrator a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 75,000 people now and 74,900 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Database Administrator?

Usually. 78% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Database Administrator?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.