Become A Database Administrator

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Working As A Database Administrator

Interacting With Computers
Processing Information
Analyzing Data or Information
Getting Information
Documenting/Recording Information

Mostly Sitting
Repetitive
$66,000
Average Salary

What Does A Database Administrator Do

Database administrators use specialized software to store and organize data, such as financial information and customer shipping records. They make sure that data are available to users and are secure from unauthorized access.

Duties

Database administrators typically do the following:

Ensure that organizational data is secure
Back up and restore data to prevent data loss
Identify user needs to create and administer databases
Ensure that the database operates efficiently and without error
Make and test modifications to the database structure when needed
Maintain the database and update permissions
Merge old databases into new ones

Database administrators, often called DBAs, make sure that data analysts can easily use the database to find the information they need and that the system performs as it should. DBAs sometimes work with an organization’s management to understand the company’s data needs and to plan the goals of the database. They also may work with computer and information systems managers to provide database solutions. Database administrators are responsible for backing up systems to prevent data loss in case of a power outage or other disaster. They also ensure the integrity of the database, guaranteeing that the data stored in it come from reliable sources.

Some DBAs oversee the development of new databases. They have to determine what the needs of the database are and who will be using it. They often monitor database performance and conduct performance-tuning support. Database administrators often plan security measures, making sure that data are secure from unauthorized access. Many databases contain personal or financial information, making security important.

Many database administrators are general-purpose DBAs and have all these duties. However, some DBAs specialize in certain tasks that vary with an organization and its needs. Two common specialties are as follows:

System DBAs are responsible for the physical and technical aspects of a database, such as installing upgrades and patches to fix program bugs. They typically have a background in system architecture and ensure that the firm’s database management systems work properly.

Application DBAs support a database that has been designed for a specific application or a set of applications, such as customer-service software. Using complex programming languages, they may write or debug programs and must be able to manage the applications that work with the database. They also do all the tasks of a general DBA, but only for their particular application.

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How To Become A Database Administrator

Database administrators (DBAs) usually have a bachelor’s degree in an information- or computer-related subject such as computer science. Before becoming an administrator, these workers typically get work experience in a related field.

Education

Most database administrators have a bachelor’s degree in management information systems (MIS) or a computer-related field. Firms with large databases may prefer applicants who have a master’s degree focusing on data or database management, typically either in computer science, information systems, or information technology.

Database administrators need an understanding of database languages, the most common of which is Structured Query Language, commonly called SQL. Most database systems use some variation of SQL, and a DBA will need to become familiar with whichever programming language the firm uses.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Certification is generally offered directly from software vendors or from vendor-neutral certification providers. Certification validates the knowledge and best practices required from DBAs. Companies may require their database administrators to be certified in the products they use.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Most do not begin their careers as database administrators. Many first work as database developers or data analysts. A database developer is a type of software developer who specializes in creating databases. The job of a data analyst is to interpret the information stored in a database in a way the firm can use. Depending on their specialty, data analysts can have different job titles, including financial analyst, market research analyst, and operations research analyst. After mastering one of these fields, they may become a database administrator. For more information, see the profiles on software developers, financial analysts, market research analysts, and operations research analysts.

Advancement

Database administrators can advance to become computer and information systems managers.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. DBAs must be able to monitor a database system’s performance to determine when action is needed. They must be able to evaluate complex information that comes from a variety of sources.

Communication skills. Most database administrators work on teams and must be able to communicate effectively with developers, managers, and other workers.

Detail oriented. Working with databases requires an understanding of complex systems, in which a minor error can cause major problems. For example, mixing up customers’ credit card information can cause someone to be charged for a purchase he or she didn’t make.

Logical thinking. Database administrators must make sense of data and organize it in a meaningful pattern so that it is easily retrievable.

Problem-solving skills. When problems with a database arise, administrators must be able to troubleshoot and correct the problems.

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Database Administrator jobs

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Database Administrator Career Paths

Database Administrator

Information Technology Manager Director Of Information

Chief Information Officer

11 Yearsyrs

Business Analyst Senior Systems Analyst Senior Software Engineer

Chief Technology Officer

11 Yearsyrs

Senior Business Analyst Business Analyst/Project Manager Business Systems Manager

Director Of Business Systems

12 Yearsyrs

Senior Systems Engineer Information Technology Manager Senior Manager

Director Of Enterprise Architecture

14 Yearsyrs

Senior Software Engineer Lead Technician Systems Administrator

Director Of Information

10 Yearsyrs

Information Technology Specialist Systems Administrator Information Technology Manager

Director Of Infrastructure Operations

13 Yearsyrs

Technical Consultant Network Administrator

Information Systems Manager

6 Yearsyrs

Data Analyst Business Analyst Information Technology Manager

Information Technology Director

10 Yearsyrs

Senior Software Engineer Senior Systems Engineer Systems Administrator

Information Technology Manager

8 Yearsyrs

Technical Consultant Senior Consultant Information Technology Manager

Information Technology Systems Manager

8 Yearsyrs

Senior Systems Engineer Systems Administrator Information Technology Manager

Infrastructure Manager

10 Yearsyrs

Project Manager Consultant Senior Consultant

Program Manager

8 Yearsyrs

Data Analyst Finance Analyst Account Manager

Senior Account Manager

7 Yearsyrs

Senior Database Administrator

9 Yearsyrs

Senior Consultant Senior Manager Director Of Information

Senior Director Of Information & Technology

13 Yearsyrs

Business Analyst Information Technology Consultant Information Technology Manager

Senior Information Technology Manager

10 Yearsyrs

Oracle Database Administrator

Senior Oracle Database Administrator

7 Yearsyrs

Information Technology Manager Senior Manager Director Of Information

Vice President Of Information Technology

12 Yearsyrs

Project Manager Program Manager Business Developer

Vice President, Business Development

13 Yearsyrs

Senior Consultant Information Technology Manager Technical Director

Vice President, Technology

11 Yearsyrs

Average Length of Employment

Senior Database Administrator 4.2 years
Database Administrator 4.0 years
Database Administration Manager 3.9 years
Oracle Database Administrator 3.9 years
Senior Administrator 3.7 years
Database Administrator/Analyst 3.6 years
Lead Database Administrator 3.5 years
Database Systems Administrator 3.3 years
Lead Oracle Database Administrator 3.2 years
Database Administrator/Software Engineer 3.0 years
Database Security Administrator 2.8 years
Database Administrator/Architect 2.8 years
Consultant Database Administrator 2.3 years
Junior Database Administrator 1.9 years

Top Careers Before Database Administrator

Top Careers After Database Administrator

Senior Database Administrator 17.8%
Oracle Database Administrator 10.2%
SQL Database Administrator 7.9%
Consultant 7.3%
Senior Oracle Database Administrator 6.3%
Project Manager 5.3%
Lead Database Administrator 4.4%
Senior Software Engineer 4.0%
Systems Administrator 3.7%
Data Analyst 3.6%
Team Leader 3.5%
Administrative Assistant 3.4%
Business Analyst 3.2%
Manager 3.1%
Customer Service Representative 3.0%
General Manager 2.8%
Software Engineer 2.8%
Database Administrator/Architect 2.6%
Owner 2.6%
Developer 2.6%

Database Administrator Demographics

Gender

Male
62.5%
Female
34.6%
Unknown
2.9%

Ethnicity

White
72.8%
Asian
13.5%
Hispanic or Latino
9.6%
Unknown
3.1%
Black or African American
1.0%

Languages Spoken

Spanish
48.8%
French
9.6%
German
4.0%
Japanese
4.0%
Arabic
4.0%
Russian
3.8%
Chinese
3.8%
Portuguese
3.3%
Mandarin
2.7%
Hindi
2.7%
Cantonese
1.9%
Carrier
1.9%
Korean
1.7%
Urdu
1.7%
Italian
1.3%
Vietnamese
1.2%
Bengali
1.2%
Polish
1.0%
Dakota
0.8%
Dutch
0.6%

Database Administrator

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Database Administrator Education

Schools

University of Phoenix
22.6%
Strayer University
6.9%
University of Maryland - University College
6.2%
University of Houston
5.0%
George Mason University
4.8%
Northeastern University
4.4%
Michigan State University
4.3%
University of Maryland - College Park
4.1%
University of Arizona
3.8%
Florida State University
3.7%
American InterContinental University
3.7%
Georgia State University
3.7%
DePaul University
3.5%
Texas A&M University
3.5%
Pennsylvania State University
3.5%
New York University
3.3%
Rochester Institute of Technology
3.3%
University of Texas at Austin
3.3%
Liberty University
3.2%
Capella University
3.2%

Majors

Degrees

Bachelors
40.6%
Masters
23.1%
Other
20.1%
Associate
8.8%
Certificate
4.1%
Doctorate
1.6%
Diploma
1.4%
License
0.3%

Database Administrator

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Real Database Administrator Salaries

Job Title	Company	Location	Start Date	Salary
Database Administrators	Intellipoint Consulting Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Jun 16, 2017	$126,000
Database Administrator-IT	Oracle America, Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Apr 11, 2016	$117,894 - $139,133
Database Administrator	Asta CRS, Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Mar 24, 2017	$114,296
Database Administrators	Pioneer Corporate Services Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Aug 21, 2013	$110,349
Database Administrators	Pioneer Corporate Services Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Mar 05, 2014	$110,349
Database Administrators	Pioneer Corporate Services Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Feb 28, 2014	$110,349
Database Administrators	Pioneer Corporate Services Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Nov 15, 2013	$110,349
Database Administrator	Sstech LLC	Ashburn, VA	Apr 24, 2017	$99,140
Database Administrator	Sstech LLC	Ashburn, VA	May 30, 2017	$99,140
Database Administrators	Pioneer Corporate Services Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Jun 28, 2011	$98,550
Database Administrators	Pioneer Corporate Services Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Jul 20, 2011	$98,550
Database Administrators	Pioneer Corporate Services Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Sep 28, 2011	$98,550
Database Administrator	Stratedge, Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Jan 12, 2018	$95,000
Database Administrator	Zirlen Technologies Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Oct 10, 2016	$93,915 - $96,002
Software Engineer/Dba	Maruthi Technologies, LLC	Ashburn, VA	Sep 29, 2012	$90,012
Database Administrator	Seven Hills Software Technologies Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Mar 18, 2013	$90,000 - $110,000
Database Administrator	Swartek Corporation	Ashburn, VA	Sep 19, 2018	$87,000
Database Administrator	Arthur Grand Technologies Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Jan 09, 2016	$80,000
Database Administrator	Arthur Grand Technologies Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Sep 01, 2015	$80,000
Database Administrator	Seven Hills Software Technologies Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Apr 01, 2013	$80,000 - $100,000
Database Administrator	Orion Systems Integrators, Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Nov 15, 2014	$79,500
Database Administrator	Infogen Software Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Sep 15, 2014	$79,000
Database Administrator	Concert Tech Corporation	Ashburn, VA	Sep 01, 2015	$77,376
Database Administrator	Total Cleaners, Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Nov 17, 2015	$77,376
Database Administrator	GVA Infotech Inc.	Ashburn, VA	May 08, 2017	$70,000
Orace DBA	GVA Infotech Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Sep 18, 2017	$70,000
Database Administrators	Populus Group, LLC	Ashburn, VA	Aug 22, 2008	$69,915
Database Administrators	K G Systems Corp.	Ashburn, VA	Dec 09, 2010	$68,453
Database Administrator	Smart Works, LLC	Ashburn, VA	Aug 10, 2015	$67,100
Database Administrator	Infogen Software Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Jan 09, 2014	$66,000
Database Administrator	GVA Infotech Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Oct 09, 2016	$66,000
Database Administrator	Infogen Software Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Sep 01, 2014	$66,000
Database Administrator	Anira Solutions Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Oct 09, 2016	$66,000
Database Administrator	Tekivy Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Sep 17, 2015	$65,000
Database Administrator	Tekivy Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Sep 17, 2015	$64,000
Database Administrator	Tekivy Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Sep 17, 2015	$63,000
Database Administrator	Dynamic Infosys, Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Oct 01, 2011	$62,276
Database Administrator	Dynamic Infosys, Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Oct 01, 2011	$62,067
Database Administrator	Viewsoft Inc.	Ashburn, VA	May 09, 2017	$61,526
Database Administrator	Zillion Technologies Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Aug 31, 2016	$61,000
Database Administrator	Business Pointers Incorporated	Ashburn, VA	Sep 19, 2016	$61,000
Database Administrator	Vastika, Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Oct 30, 2014	$60,091
Database Administrator	North Dome Solutions	Ashburn, VA	Sep 02, 2015	$60,000
Database Administrator	Infogen Software Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Oct 09, 2015	$60,000
Database Administrator	Vastika, Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Oct 01, 2012	$60,000
Database Administrator	Infogen Software Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Sep 10, 2015	$60,000
Database Administrator	Vyshnavi Infotech Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Aug 08, 2011	$60,000
Database Administrator	Eateam, Inc.	Ashburn, VA	May 15, 2012	$60,000
Database Administrator	Tekivy Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Sep 17, 2015	$60,000
Database Administrator	Techamerica Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Sep 19, 2015	$60,000
Database Administrator	Techamerica Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Oct 01, 2015	$60,000
Database Administrator	Kforce Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Aug 23, 2010	$53,636 - $50
Database Administrator	JPS Holdings, Inc.	Ashburn, VA	Dec 20, 2009	$43,181

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Top Skills for A Database Administrator

Top Database Administrator Skills

Pl/Sql
Microsoft SQL Server
Recovery Procedures

You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:

Developed PL/SQL procedure for generating report on daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly basis.
Provisioned Microsoft SQL Server 2005, 2008 and installed service patches.
Enhance database performance, perform restores, implement recovery procedures, handle performance tuning and conduct regular system backups.
Performed Database backups (operating system, flat file backups & export/import).
Performed daily DBA management tasks including troubleshooting, performance and tuning, database monitoring and backup/recovery.