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Database administrator vs data scientist

The differences between database administrators and data scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a database administrator and a data scientist. Additionally, a data scientist has an average salary of $106,104, which is higher than the $81,960 average annual salary of a database administrator.

The top three skills for a database administrator include customer service, linux and microsoft sql server. The most important skills for a data scientist are python, data science, and visualization.

Database administrator vs data scientist overview

Database AdministratorData Scientist
Yearly salary$81,960$106,104
Hourly rate$39.40$51.01
Growth rate9%16%
Number of jobs56,992106,973
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4641
Years of experience44

What does a database administrator do?

Database administrators use specially designed software to keep, organize, restore, and secure data for businesses, employees, and customers from unauthorized people or unwanted users. They search for potential security risks or issues and proactively correct or find appropriate solutions. They are highly trained tech experts who work full-time for establishments that give computer design services or in industries that have huge databases, such as educational academies, institutions, and insurance firms. It is their responsibility to closely monitor the database system to ensure efficiency and functionality. They work jointly with information systems managers to customize database solutions based on corporate needs. They also coordinate the systems that data analysts use for translating numbers into strategic business plans.

What does a data scientist do?

A Data Scientist analyzes information from multiple sources in order to gain maximum insight that can give the company a competitive advantage. They work in different domains, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and finance.

Database administrator vs data scientist salary

Database administrators and data scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Database AdministratorData Scientist
Average salary$81,960$106,104
Salary rangeBetween $60,000 And $111,000Between $75,000 And $148,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WARichmond, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyThe CitadelThe Citadel
Best paying industryHealth CareStart-up

Differences between database administrator and data scientist education

There are a few differences between a database administrator and a data scientist in terms of educational background:

Database AdministratorData Scientist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorBusinessComputer Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York

Database administrator vs data scientist demographics

Here are the differences between database administrators' and data scientists' demographics:

Database AdministratorData Scientist
Average age4641
Gender ratioMale, 61.4% Female, 38.6%Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 17.7% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 18.8% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage6%9%

Differences between database administrator and data scientist duties and responsibilities

Database administrator example 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.
  • Create and manage DTS and SSIS jobs to perform extra back up support for company's back up agent and procedure.
  • Lead multiple infrastructure planning and implementation including instance strategy, technical platform selection, architecture design, backup and recovery strategy.
  • Show more

Data scientist example responsibilities.

  • Update, maintain, and manage regional CRM database and records for customers, vendors, and suppliers.
  • Configure and manage JobScope ERP system for a make-to-order/make-to-stock design and manufacturing environment.
  • Lead the analysis in SAS for data integration of mortality data using meta-analysis integration methods.
  • Implement a proximal stochastic gradient descent with a line search to fit a regularize logistic regression in Scala
  • Perform cross-validation-test on linear regression model of data using scikit-learn.
  • Develop python base statistical visualization to provide insights of fuzzy social media data.
  • Show more

Database administrator vs data scientist skills

Common database administrator skills
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Linux, 5%
  • Microsoft SQL Server, 5%
  • DBA, 4%
  • Troubleshoot, 4%
  • Database Administration, 4%
Common data scientist skills
  • Python, 13%
  • Data Science, 10%
  • Visualization, 5%
  • Java, 4%
  • Hadoop, 4%
  • Tableau, 3%

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