Database administrator salary

Database administrator earnings by seniority

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Database administrator salary by state

How much does a Database Administrator earn?

In the IT world, database administrator salaries are amongst the highest base wages. Experienced database administrators and database managers can have salaries well into the six-figure range. Database administration is a sought after career offering top salary potential and significant opportunities to move upwards, regardless of industry and/or database system specialization(s).

Geography can play a significant role in entry-level database administrator salaries. States with a large number of database administrators typically start their administrators at a higher salary. The five states with the largest number of database administrators are California, Texas, New York, Virginia and Florida.

It may be wise to add specialized training in cyber-security to increase your starting salary. Companies routinely hire database administrators and other information technologists to secure data. This area can lead to a higher salary for a beginning database administrator, especially in companies that can't afford to hire a separate specialist. In addition, possessing a Microsoft or Oracle certification can give you a huge leg up when it comes to a strong starting salary, and it will also give you a competitive advantage over your peers.

How do database administrator salaries compare to similar careers?

Database administrators earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than computer systems analysts but more than digital marketing specialists.