No, DBA (database administrator) jobs are not dying. In fact, the field of database administration is rapidly growing, with more and more companies tracking large amounts of data and needing technical professionals to store, organize, and troubleshoot their data to ensure it runs efficiently.

What is a database administrator and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become a Database Administrator?

It takes 5 years of professional experience to become a database administrator. That is the time it takes to learn specific database administrator skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 8 to 10 years years to become a database administrator.

Q: Is database administrator a good career?

Yes, database administrator is a relatively good career. The role of a database administrator (DBA) is gainful with a good job outlook, but the work can be extremely stressful without much recognition.

Q: What are the roles and responsibilities of a database administrator?

The roles and responsibilities of a database administrator (DBA) are often to manage their organization's data, train new staff, and communicate across multiple teams and departments. Database administrators are the stewards of their organization's data. As such, they store, organize, and troubleshoot their organization's data using a database platform, such as SQL or Oracle.

Q: What are the skills of a database administrator?

The skills of a database administrator are mostly technical, with strengths in problem-solving and communication. DBAs must have technical experience with database platforms, such as SQL and Oracle. This knowledge is often gained through a relevant bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Janice Garnett Ed.D.

A database administrator manages and maintains an organization's database systems. They ensure that databases remain secure, backed up, and efficient. Additionally, they monitor performance and troubleshoot issues, as well as implement security measures to prevent unauthorized access. Database administrators also optimize database design and architecture, ensuring easy access and analysis by end-users. They may also work with developers to integrate new systems. Overall, a database administrator ensures the smooth operation of an organization's data infrastructure.

What general advice would you give to a database administrator?

Janice Garnett Ed.D.

Senior Lecturer, University of Nebraska - Omaha

Negotiate based on research, develop a career development plan, focus on enhancing performance, professional growth, and continuous learning.

ScoreDatabase AdministratorUS Average

Salary

6.4

Avg. Salary $81,960

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.4

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.54%

Asian 17.71%

Black or African American 8.06%

Hispanic or Latino 9.23%

Unknown 5.20%

White 59.24%

Gender

female 38.64%

male 61.36%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

4.4

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a database administrator?

Pros

High demand for database administrators
Opportunities for career advancement
Ability to work remotely
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Opportunity to work on large-scale projects

Cons

Long hours and on-call responsibilities
Repetitive tasks can become tedious over time
Risk of burnout due to high workload and high stress environment
High pressure to maintain system uptime and availability
Limited opportunities for creativity and innovation

Key steps to become a database administrator

Explore database administrator education requirements

Most common database administrator degrees

Bachelor's

61.4 %

Associate

15.3 %

Master's

12.5 %

Start to develop specific database administrator skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	5.14%
Linux	4.62%
Microsoft SQL Server	4.59%
DBA	4.49%
Troubleshoot	4.46%

Complete relevant database administrator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New database administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a database administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real database administrator resumes.

Research database administrator duties and responsibilities

Deploy and manage VMware horizon view on CISCO UCS for VDI deployemet.
Create and manage database security, data encryption, and apply object level security.
Resolve ASM errors, which lead to complete dysfunction of the ASM due to capacity issues.
Fix grid control alerts on the database and monitor the database using grid control including managing of templates.

Prepare your database administrator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your database administrator resume.

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