Database Administrators: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Database Administrators fall under the Computer and Mathematical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Database Administrators earn a median salary of $104,620 per year, ranking in the top 10% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.7% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do database administrators earn?

The median annual wage for database administrators is $104,620. That puts database administrators at #81 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is database administrators a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for database administrators is -0.7%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 78K positions in 2024 to 77K in 2034, a net change of -1K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do database administrators do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working database administrators, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Write and code logical and physical database descriptions and specify identifiers of database to management system, or direct others in coding descriptions.
2. 2.Identify, evaluate and recommend hardware or software technologies to achieve desired database performance.
3. 3.Review procedures in database management system manuals to make changes to database.
4. 4.Train users and answer questions.
5. 5.Provide technical support to junior staff or clients.
6. 6.Develop data models describing data elements and how they are used, following procedures and using pen, template, or computer software.
7. 7.Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification or disclosure.
8. 8.Test changes to database applications or systems.

Top skills for database administrators

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become database administrator?

The standard path into database administrators begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Computer and Information Research Scientists
  $140,910 median
• Database Architects
  $135,980 median
• Software Developers
  $133,080 median
• Computer Network Architects
  $130,390 median
• Actuaries
  $125,770 median
• Information Security Analysts
  $124,910 median

Common questions parents ask about database administrators