How to hire a junior database administrator

How to hire a junior database administrator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step junior database administrator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a junior database administrator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new junior database administrator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a junior database administrator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The junior database administrator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A junior database administrator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, junior database administrators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of junior database administrators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Junior Database Administrator	Description	Hourly rate
   Junior Database Administrator	Database administrators (DBAs) 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.	$28-47
   Pl/Sql Developer	A PL/SQL developer is responsible for managing and designing the network interface of PL/SQL packages according to business requirements and core specifications. PL/SQL developers must have excellent knowledge of technical solutions to create efficient databases and applications with optimal infrastructure and excellent navigation... Show more	$33-53
   SQL Developer	An SQL developer is responsible for designing database systems for storing and accessing business information. SQL developers incorporate a high-level of data management and technical knowledge to ensure the safety and security of the systems, preventing unauthorized access that may put the company's reputation in jeopardy... Show more	$33-53

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Microsoft SQL Server
   • Database Objects
   • Database Backup
   • PL/SQL
   • DBA
   • Troubleshoot
   • Database Administration
   • Recovery Procedures
   • Database Design
   • Windows Server
   • Linux
   • T-SQL
   • Database Systems
   • Ssis

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create users, roles, and profiles to manage CPU resources and accessibility.
   • Work on automatic storage management (ASM) for managing data in SAN.
   • Lead multiple infrastructure planning and implementation including instance strategy, technical platform selection, architecture design, backup and recovery strategy.
   • Migrate databases from HP-UX to AIX.
   • Create databases on Linux and windows platform\
   • Create SSIS packages to validate, extract, transform and load data to data warehouse databases.

   More junior database administrator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your junior database administrator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A junior database administrator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, junior database administrators' average salary in oklahoma is 32% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level junior database administrators 40% less than senior-level junior database administrators.
   • Certifications. A junior database administrator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a junior database administrator's salary.

   Average junior database administrator salary

   $77,015yearly

   $37.03 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level junior database administrator salary

   $59,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average junior database administrator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$92,859	$45
   2	California	$85,765	$41
   3	Missouri	$85,332	$41
   4	Massachusetts	$82,954	$40
   5	Connecticut	$82,558	$40
   6	Delaware	$81,906	$39
   7	Texas	$81,085	$39
   8	New York	$79,078	$38
   9	Maryland	$78,200	$38
   10	Wisconsin	$77,467	$37
   11	District of Columbia	$77,459	$37
   12	Virginia	$76,480	$37
   13	Arizona	$75,275	$36
   14	Georgia	$73,942	$36
   15	Pennsylvania	$73,871	$36
   16	Illinois	$73,440	$35
   17	Minnesota	$73,419	$35
   18	New Jersey	$73,214	$35
   19	Michigan	$71,886	$35
   20	Florida	$71,075	$34

   Average junior database administrator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Marketing Associates	$87,538	$42.09
   2	MOHELA	$87,408	$42.02
   3	ESL Federal Credit Union	$87,324	$41.98
   4	Merkle	$86,336	$41.51
   5	United Nations Foundation	$84,597	$40.67	1
   6	SD&A Teleservices, Inc.	$83,471	$40.13
   7	Cnsi	$82,524	$39.67
   8	Openlink Financial	$82,234	$39.54
   9	Harmonia Holdings Group	$82,118	$39.48	3
   10	MarketBridge	$81,606	$39.23
   11	MetroStar	$80,593	$38.75	6
   12	Raytheon Technologies	$80,287	$38.60	36
   13	Home Partners of America	$79,022	$37.99
   14	PDS Tech	$78,905	$37.94
   15	Vision Systems Inc	$78,885	$37.93
   16	cPanel	$78,714	$37.84
   17	HDR	$77,680	$37.35	5
   18	HCL Technologies	$77,236	$37.13	1
   19	Accenture	$76,697	$36.87	87
   20	Deloitte	$75,737	$36.41	129

4. Writing a junior database administrator job description

   A junior database administrator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a junior database administrator job description:

   Junior database administrator job description example

   The government client requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for any/all positions that will require travel.
   
   Full vaccination (against COVID-19) is defined as: an individual must be either two weeks past the last shot of a two-shot vaccination sequence, or two weeks past the only shot of a one-shot vaccination sequence.
   The Jr Database Administrator supports the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) on the Integrated Research and Development for Enterprise Solutions (IRES) contract. The candidate will:
   
   Install, configure, operate, and maintain database systems across the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) enterprise network. Research and apply best business practices for the design and administration of databases. Support creation and maintenance of standard database policies, operating procedures and overall documentation. Implement database performance monitoring, fine tuning and optimize database systems. Support development and implementation of database backup and disaster recovery strategies. Conduct database capacity and availability audits. Participate in IT and business projects to define database system requirements and recommend technology solutions. Research, benchmark, document and introduce new database technologies and features into application life cycle. Collaborate with the application developers, business owners and architects in design and implementations.
   
   The successful candidate will:
   Quickly adapt to new situations. Have a strong commitment to a team environment. Have a willingness to learn new technologies. Be able to de-conflict requests/requirements. Be able to work independently with minimal supervision, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
   
   This position can be filled at Schriever SFB, Colorado Springs, CO, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL, or in the National Capital Region
   
   This position is expected to pay $75,200 - $103,300 annually; depending on location, experience, education, and any certifications that are directly related to the position.
   
   This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days. If a candidate has not been selected at that time, it will continue to be posted until a suitable candidate is selected or the position is closed.
   
   Resumes, in month and year format, must be submitted with application in order to be considered for the position.The selected candidate will be assigned as an employee for Jacobs or one of our teammate companies.
   
   Jacobs health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Typical benefits offered include flexible work schedules and opportunities to work remotely, educational reimbursement, retirement benefits (401K match), employee stock purchase plan, health benefits, tax saving options, disability benefits, life and accident insurance, voluntary benefits, paid time off and paid holidays, and parental leave.
   
   #cjpost
   
   #LI-CM2
   
   Basic Requirements:
   
   Must have one of the following combinations of education and experience: HS Diploma (or GED) and 4 years of general experience; Associate's degree and 2 years of general experience; Bachelor's degree and 0 years of general experience.
   
   If this position requires travel selected candidate must be willing to provide proof of fully vaccinated (against COVID-19) status? (the process of which must be completed prior to the anticipated start date) Must have 2 years of related experience in designing and implementing database structures, automating DBA tasks or with data modeling and schema design Must have, or obtain within 6 months of hire, an appropriate computing environment certificate (ex: Microsoft Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Azure, etc) Must have, or obtain within 3 months, a current DoD 8570 Level II Certification such as CompTIA Security+ CE or higher Must have, or obtain, an active DoD Secret Security Clearance
   
   Desired Requirements:
   Have experience with MS SQL Server 2014 or higher Have experience with MS SQL Server cluster, MS SQL Server database performance tuning, MS SQL Server database monitoring Have experience with MS SQL Server database backup/recovery Have knowledge, and experience, with relational DBMS concepts, design, architecture, and operations Have experience working with databases in Azure or AWS

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find junior database administrators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any junior database administrators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level junior database administrators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   To find junior database administrator candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit junior database administrators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   If your interviews with junior database administrator applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new junior database administrator

   Once you've decided on a perfect junior database administrator candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new junior database administrator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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