DBA Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
If you intend to build a career as a database administrator, you would need to have the required qualifications. This can range from an associate degree to a doctoral degree. A two-year degree with work experience may also be sufficient. One might be required to have a bachelor’s degree in subjects like information science, computer science or management information systems. Private training institutions offer continuing education that is necessary in database administration.
There are many community colleges, universities and technical institutes that offer the necessary qualifications required of a database administrator. Four year occupation specific degree programs are also offered to candidates.
Training and Education
Employees often find employers are looking for a bachelor's degree. DBAs, in 72% of cases, have bachelor's degree or higher. After high school, 24% of workers pursued some additional career education. Employees, in 5% of cases, had only a high school education.
Job Overview
Database administrators are highly trained professionals who work with database management systems and software. Apart from organizing and storing data, they also create new databases according to the requirements of the user. These professionals are also involved in testing and coordinating modifications to computer systems when required. They are also required to be familiar with the various problems that might arise in the functioning of the systems.
Job Requirements
Database administrators can opt for certificates that are offered by private companies. This kind of certification is considered to be in-sync with the industrial standards. One can be hired as a database administrator and then obtain certification on a particular software package in database management. There are many organizations that provide opportunity for voluntary certifications.
Database administrators can achieve a managerial position, like that of a chief technology officer. For this to happen, however, experience in data management and enforcement of security is essential. These professionals need to be efficient learners, have an eye for detail and have good communication skills and logical thinking ability.
Nature of Work
Database administrators need to identify the needs of the users and set up the database accordingly. They are also required to ensure that the system is performing properly.
Database administrators usually work in laboratories or offices. Generally, they are required to work for 40 hours a week. For solving specific problems or for meeting deadlines, database administrators might be required to work overtime or on weekends. Work can be done through the Internet or e-mail, but some work needs to done from the office for security reasons.
Area Job Conditions
DBAs -of-a-feather seem to flock to Boulder (Colorado), Ithaca (New York), and Durham (North Carolina). They are less likely to be found around Hickory (North Carolina), Gary (Indiana), and Youngstown (Ohio).
Compensation of workers is best in San Francisco (California), Stockton (California), and Trenton (New Jersey), and much worse in Johnson City (Tennessee), Port St. Lucie (Florida), and Lynchburg (Virginia).
Part-Time and Self Employment
DBAs employed part-time are 5% of the total. Workers, in about 1% of cases, work for themselves.
Career Videos
DBAs by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $65,000 | 350 | -27% |
| Huntsville | $65,000 | 350 | +90% |
| Mobile | $48,000 | 70 | -57% |
| Montgomery | $64,000 | 100 | -34% |
| Tuscaloosa | $50,000 | 40 | -47% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $78,000 | 100 | -29% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | $64,000 | 40 | -10% |
| Phoenix | $66,000 | 2,010 | +17% |
| Tucson | $60,000 | 370 | +11% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $57,000 | 200 | +14% |
| Fort Smith | $66,000 | 40 | -61% |
| Little Rock | $71,000 | 500 | +63% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $62,000 | 110 | -54% |
| Fresno | $58,000 | 90 | -70% |
| Modesto | $65,000 | 40 | -72% |
| Oakland | $83,000 | 1,110 | +17% |
| Oxnard | $72,000 | 220 | -18% |
| Redding | $57,000 | 50 | -9% |
| Riverside | $74,000 | 380 | -68% |
| Sacramento | $75,000 | 760 | -7% |
| Salinas | $70,000 | 50 | -63% |
| San Diego | $64,000 | 1,380 | +12% |
| San Francisco | $91,000 | 1,410 | +53% |
| Santa Ana | $72,000 | 1,370 | -3% |
| Santa Barbara | $71,000 | 90 | -39% |
| Santa Cruz | $68,000 | 60 | -19% |
| Santa Rosa | $74,000 | 90 | -45% |
| Stockton | $90,000 | 70 | -63% |
| Vallejo | $81,000 | 90 | -15% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $71,000 | 640 | +353% |
| Colorado Springs | $74,000 | 260 | +15% |
| Denver | $73,000 | 2,170 | +88% |
| Fort Collins | $66,000 | 90 | -14% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $71,000 | 960 | +141% |
| Hartford | $77,000 | 570 | +7% |
| New Haven | $77,000 | 190 | -25% |
| Norwich | $72,000 | 50 | -53% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $77,000 | 560 | +88% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $81,000 | 5,230 | +145% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $74,000 | 120 | -36% |
| Deltona | $56,000 | 60 | -56% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $66,000 | 630 | -6% |
| Fort Walton Beach | $59,000 | 60 | -5% |
| Gainesville | $63,000 | 60 | -39% |
| Jacksonville | $61,000 | 660 | +19% |
| Lakeland | $62,000 | 130 | -24% |
| Miami | $68,000 | 430 | -53% |
| Naples | $69,000 | 40 | -61% |
| Ocala | $52,000 | 30 | -63% |
| Orlando | $66,000 | 960 | -1% |
| Palm Bay | $73,000 | 220 | +26% |
| Pensacola | $53,000 | 80 | -39% |
| Port St Lucie | $48,000 | 70 | -36% |
| Sarasota | $65,000 | 90 | -62% |
| Tallahassee | $57,000 | 240 | +68% |
| Tampa | $69,000 | 1,410 | +26% |
| West Palm Beach | $73,000 | 450 | -8% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $76,000 | 2,980 | +36% |
| Augusta | $59,000 | 70 | -62% |
| Columbus | $74,000 | 70 | -25% |
| Savannah | $58,000 | 60 | -54% |
| Warner Robins | $60,000 | 50 | +26% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $61,000 | 220 | -45% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $74,000 | 180 | -25% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $75,000 | 60 | -25% |
| Chicago | $75,000 | 3,810 | +8% |
| Peoria | $61,000 | 80 | -47% |
| Rockford | $60,000 | 40 | -70% |
| Springfield | $73,000 | 70 | -20% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $59,000 | 100 | -35% |
| Fort Wayne | $64,000 | 140 | -26% |
| Gary | $61,000 | 50 | -80% |
| Indianapolis | $66,000 | 1,000 | +21% |
| Lafayette | $64,000 | 90 | +43% |
| South Bend | $55,000 | 100 | -15% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $67,000 | 80 | -32% |
| Davenport | $65,000 | 90 | -45% |
| Des Moines | $73,000 | 290 | -2% |
| Iowa City | $61,000 | 90 | +51% |
| Waterloo | $65,000 | 30 | -58% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $63,000 | 120 | +27% |
| Wichita | $57,000 | 150 | -46% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $63,000 | 660 | +204% |
| Louisville | $62,000 | 660 | +17% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $62,000 | 90 | -73% |
| Lafayette | $51,000 | 30 | -76% |
| New Orleans | $65,000 | 220 | -53% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $69,000 | 150 | -17% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $86,000 | 1,850 | +54% |
| Bethesda | $83,000 | 990 | +89% |
| Hagerstown | $52,000 | 50 | -41% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $80,000 | 2,480 | +56% |
| Brockton | $71,000 | 30 | -60% |
| Framingham | $82,000 | 220 | +54% |
| Lawrence | $61,000 | 40 | -14% |
| Lowell | $82,000 | 150 | +44% |
| Springfield | $72,000 | 160 | -41% |
| Worcester | $64,000 | 200 | -10% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $75,000 | 160 | +10% |
| Detroit | $68,000 | 730 | +12% |
| Flint | $62,000 | 40 | -66% |
| Grand Rapids | $65,000 | 150 | -56% |
| Kalamazoo | $58,000 | 90 | -24% |
| Lansing | $64,000 | 230 | +35% |
| Warren | $73,000 | 1,000 | -6% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $58,000 | 40 | -64% |
| Minneapolis | $78,000 | 2,110 | +27% |
| Rochester | $71,000 | 160 | +104% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $51,000 | 50 | -46% |
| Jackson | $54,000 | 170 | -25% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $59,000 | 40 | -42% |
| Jefferson City | $60,000 | 50 | -12% |
| Joplin | $59,000 | 30 | -55% |
| Springfield | $58,000 | 70 | -60% |
| St Louis | $62,000 | 1,950 | +56% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $53,000 | 40 | -4% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $54,000 | 170 | +19% |
| Omaha | $74,000 | 700 | +66% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $82,000 | 230 | -73% |
| Reno | $54,000 | 100 | -46% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $75,000 | 50 | -44% |
| Nashua | $82,000 | 110 | -9% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $71,000 | 70 | -46% |
| Camden | $76,000 | 260 | -46% |
| Edison | $80,000 | 1,030 | +8% |
| Newark | $77,000 | 1,020 | +10% |
| Trenton | $80,000 | 300 | +57% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $60,000 | 320 | -10% |
| Las Cruces | $55,000 | 70 | +40% |
| Santa Fe | $55,000 | 80 | +54% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $72,000 | 540 | +35% |
| Binghamton | $58,000 | 50 | -45% |
| Buffalo | $65,000 | 400 | -19% |
| Ithaca | $63,000 | 120 | +260% |
| Nassau | $78,000 | 700 | -40% |
| New York | $89,000 | 7,010 | +48% |
| Poughkeepsie | $62,000 | 250 | +17% |
| Rochester | $70,000 | 430 | -6% |
| Syracuse | $71,000 | 100 | -64% |
| Utica | $55,000 | 80 | -27% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $47,000 | 50 | -68% |
| Burlington | $58,000 | 30 | -37% |
| Charlotte | $80,000 | 720 | -12% |
| Durham | $74,000 | 810 | +230% |
| Greensboro | $73,000 | 290 | -14% |
| Greenville | $63,000 | 40 | -32% |
| Hickory | $59,000 | 30 | -79% |
| Raleigh | $74,000 | 440 | -6% |
| Wilmington | $51,000 | 110 | -13% |
| Winston Salem | $79,000 | 130 | -32% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $67,000 | 500 | +64% |
| Canton | $70,000 | 70 | -54% |
| Cincinnati | $71,000 | 840 | -12% |
| Cleveland | $64,000 | 1,010 | +3% |
| Columbus | $74,000 | 1,270 | +48% |
| Dayton | $68,000 | 330 | -7% |
| Toledo | $58,000 | 130 | -54% |
| Youngstown | $56,000 | 40 | -81% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $53,000 | 440 | -15% |
| Tulsa | $62,000 | 330 | -17% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | $68,000 | 120 | -8% |
| Portland | $76,000 | 950 | -1% |
| Salem | $66,000 | 50 | -62% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $59,000 | 190 | -38% |
| Erie | $57,000 | 90 | -17% |
| Harrisburg | $69,000 | 700 | +145% |
| Lancaster | $59,000 | 80 | -62% |
| Philadelphia | $73,000 | 1,970 | +13% |
| Pittsburgh | $60,000 | 760 | -28% |
| Reading | $67,000 | 80 | -45% |
| Scranton | $72,000 | 80 | -65% |
| York | $61,000 | 60 | -62% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 230 | -56% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $60,000 | 280 | +7% |
| Columbia | $60,000 | 550 | +73% |
| Greenville | $67,000 | 250 | -9% |
| Myrtle Beach | $62,000 | 40 | -61% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $65,000 | 80 | -33% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $55,000 | 100 | -52% |
| Johnson City | $47,000 | 50 | -19% |
| Knoxville | $65,000 | 270 | -11% |
| Memphis | $67,000 | 230 | -60% |
| Nashville | $70,000 | 650 | -8% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | $41,000 | 40 | -21% |
| Amarillo | $64,000 | 80 | -6% |
| Austin | $72,000 | 1,550 | +121% |
| Beaumont | $72,000 | 40 | -71% |
| Brownsville | $56,000 | 30 | -72% |
| College Station | $62,000 | 90 | +40% |
| Corpus Christi | $51,000 | 70 | -55% |
| Dallas | $72,000 | 3,550 | +83% |
| El Paso | $54,000 | 140 | -41% |
| Fort Worth | $68,000 | 550 | -31% |
| Houston | $69,000 | 2,530 | +6% |
| Killeen | $63,000 | 130 | +27% |
| Longview | $56,000 | 30 | -62% |
| Lubbock | $63,000 | 30 | -71% |
| Mcallen | $45,000 | 80 | -59% |
| Midland | $65,000 | 40 | -26% |
| San Antonio | $63,000 | 820 | +6% |
| Tyler | $58,000 | 30 | -61% |
| Waco | $55,000 | 70 | -14% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $66,000 | 120 | -32% |
| Provo | $71,000 | 170 | +17% |
| Salt Lake City | $69,000 | 620 | +8% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $57,000 | 100 | +6% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg | $79,000 | 40 | -19% |
| Charlottesville | $70,000 | 140 | +78% |
| Lynchburg | $40,000 | 70 | -18% |
| Richmond | $75,000 | 860 | +57% |
| Roanoke | $65,000 | 80 | -42% |
| Virginia Beach | $61,000 | 720 | +4% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $48,000 | 40 | -40% |
| Kennewick | $66,000 | 40 | -47% |
| Mount Vernon | $69,000 | 40 | +14% |
| Olympia | $77,000 | 50 | -37% |
| Seattle | $79,000 | 2,040 | +54% |
| Spokane | $55,000 | 130 | -30% |
| Tacoma | $73,000 | 100 | -59% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $53,000 | 90 | -29% |
| Morgantown | $56,000 | 40 | +9% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $58,000 | 70 | -29% |
| Green Bay | $62,000 | 110 | -25% |
| Madison | $66,000 | 370 | +23% |
| Milwaukee | $69,000 | 680 | -13% |
| Oshkosh | $71,000 | 40 | -43% |
| Racine | $61,000 | 40 | -38% |
| Wausau | $71,000 | 70 | +27% |