Best cities for a database administrator
The best cities for database administrators are Durham, NC, Winston-Salem, NC, and Charlotte, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for database administrators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for database administrators in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a database administrator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for database administrators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for database administrators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a database administrator. While the absolute best city for database administrators is Durham, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for database administrators in 2024.
If you're looking for a database administrator job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for database administrators in 2026
1. Durham, NC
Database administrator jobs in DurhamTotal database administrator jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $78,256 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 35.54 2. Winston-Salem, NC
Database administrator jobs in Winston-SalemTotal database administrator jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $77,772 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 22.36 3. Charlotte, NC
Database administrator jobs in CharlotteTotal database administrator jobs: 228 Average annual salary: $77,083 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 25.59 4. Detroit, MI
Database administrator jobs in DetroitTotal database administrator jobs: 168 Average annual salary: $77,094 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 16.30 5. Louisville, KY
Database administrator jobs in LouisvilleTotal database administrator jobs: 223 Average annual salary: $73,898 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 25.97 6. Columbus, OH
Database administrator jobs in ColumbusTotal database administrator jobs: 70 Average annual salary: $77,907 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 15.00 7. Irving, TX
Database administrator jobs in IrvingTotal database administrator jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $76,485 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 68.43 8. Phoenix, AZ
Database administrator jobs in PhoenixTotal database administrator jobs: 112 Average annual salary: $79,905 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 20.50 9. Madison, WI
Database administrator jobs in MadisonTotal database administrator jobs: 156 Average annual salary: $77,775 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 17.61 10. Lexington, KY
Database administrator jobs in LexingtonTotal database administrator jobs: 64 Average annual salary: $74,258 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 21.08
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Best cities for database administrators
- Durham, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Charlotte, NC
- Detroit, MI
- Louisville, KY
- Columbus, OH
- Irving, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Madison, WI
- Lexington, KY
- (26 database administrator jobs)
- (53 database administrator jobs)
- (228 database administrator jobs)
- (168 database administrator jobs)
- (223 database administrator jobs)
- (70 database administrator jobs)
- (38 database administrator jobs)
- (112 database administrator jobs)
- (156 database administrator jobs)
- (64 database administrator jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a database administrator
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham, NC | $78,256 | $58,000 | 263,016 | 26 |
| 2 | Winston-Salem, NC | $77,772 | $58,000 | 242,203 | 53 |
| 3 | Charlotte, NC | $77,083 | $57,000 | 842,051 | 228 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $77,094 | $58,000 | 672,795 | 168 |
| 5 | Louisville, KY | $73,898 | $55,000 | 597,337 | 223 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $77,907 | $58,000 | 860,090 | 70 |
| 7 | Irving, TX | $76,485 | $56,000 | 238,289 | 38 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $79,905 | $58,000 | 1,615,017 | 112 |
| 9 | Madison, WI | $77,775 | $59,000 | 252,551 | 156 |
| 10 | Lexington, KY | $74,258 | $55,000 | 318,449 | 64 |
| 11 | Dallas, TX | $76,497 | $56,000 | 1,317,929 | 20 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $77,845 | $56,000 | 947,890 | 167 |
| 13 | Plano, TX | $76,259 | $56,000 | 286,057 | 224 |
| 14 | Scottsdale, AZ | $79,837 | $58,000 | 246,645 | 89 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $77,988 | $56,000 | 1,492,510 | 242 |
| 16 | Fort Worth, TX | $76,664 | $56,000 | 854,113 | 175 |
| 17 | Cincinnati, OH | $77,155 | $58,000 | 298,800 | 130 |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $78,750 | $59,000 | 385,809 | 105 |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $77,519 | $56,000 | 2,303,482 | 34 |
| 20 | Pittsburgh, PA | $76,231 | $57,000 | 303,625 | 212 |
| 21 | Raleigh, NC | $78,230 | $58,000 | 458,880 | 164 |
| 22 | Greensboro, NC | $77,940 | $58,000 | 287,027 | 47 |
| 23 | Seattle, WA | $96,878 | $72,000 | 704,352 | 234 |
| 24 | Nashville, TN | $71,927 | $54,000 | 660,388 | 237 |
| 25 | Chandler, AZ | $79,834 | $58,000 | 247,477 | 66 |
| 26 | Las Vegas, NV | $86,148 | $62,000 | 632,912 | 112 |
| 27 | Fremont, CA | $91,162 | $65,000 | 233,136 | 33 |
| 28 | Sacramento, CA | $91,450 | $65,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 29 | Jersey City, NJ | $82,403 | $61,000 | 264,152 | 234 |
| 30 | Philadelphia, PA | $77,819 | $57,000 | 1,567,872 | 220 |
| 31 | Omaha, NE | $74,291 | $56,000 | 446,970 | 161 |
| 32 | Milwaukee, WI | $77,957 | $59,000 | 595,047 | 100 |
| 33 | Glendale, AZ | $79,933 | $58,000 | 245,895 | 14 |
| 34 | Atlanta, GA | $74,604 | $55,000 | 472,522 | 110 |
| 35 | San Jose, CA | $90,841 | $65,000 | 1,025,350 | 229 |
| 36 | North Las Vegas, NV | $86,061 | $62,000 | 238,702 | 3 |
| 37 | Hempstead, NY | $83,298 | $61,000 | 759,757 | 4 |
| 38 | Santa Ana, CA | $86,240 | $62,000 | 334,217 | 84 |
| 39 | El Paso, TX | $79,110 | $57,000 | 683,080 | 21 |
| 40 | Reno, NV | $90,338 | $65,000 | 245,255 | 18 |
| 41 | Toledo, OH | $78,370 | $59,000 | 278,508 | 13 |
| 42 | Garland, TX | $76,333 | $56,000 | 234,943 | 10 |
| 43 | Bakersfield, CA | $87,397 | $63,000 | 376,380 | 56 |
| 44 | Oakland, CA | $91,618 | $65,000 | 420,005 | 67 |
| 45 | Henderson, NV | $86,034 | $62,000 | 292,969 | 4 |
| 46 | New Orleans, LA | $77,147 | $56,000 | 391,495 | 36 |
| 47 | Portland, OR | $86,903 | $64,000 | 639,863 | 100 |
| 48 | Boston, MA | $85,710 | $64,000 | 673,184 | 126 |
| 49 | Newark, NJ | $82,377 | $61,000 | 281,764 | 90 |
| 50 | Indianapolis, IN | $70,919 | $53,000 | 855,164 | 16 |
Highest paying cities for database administrators
| Rank | City | Avg. database administrator salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $96,878 |
| 2 | Richmond, CA | $91,890 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $85,710 |
| 4 | Troy, NY | $83,497 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $82,403 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $80,422 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $79,905 |
| 8 | Bloomington, MN | $79,137 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $78,849 |
| 10 | Reston, VA | $78,804 |
| 11 | Durham, NC | $78,256 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $77,988 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $77,907 |
| 14 | Troy, MI | $77,149 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $75,732 |
| 16 | Alpharetta, GA | $74,695 |
| 17 | Bellevue, NE | $74,242 |
| 18 | Richmond, KY | $74,149 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $73,558 |
| 20 | Tampa, FL | $71,940 |
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Updated January 8, 2025