### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Database Administrators and Architects Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			database administrators imageDatabase administrators ensure that data are available to many different users.							
						Quick Facts:     Database Administrators and Architects2023     Median Pay
            						$117,450     per year
										$56.46     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    See How to Become OneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    149,300Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    8% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    12,300What Database Administrators and Architects Do
                                                
                        
                        
Database administrators and architects create or organize systems to store and secure data.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Many database administrators and architects work in firms that provide computer design services or in industries that have large databases, such educational institutions and insurance companies. Most database administrators and architects work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Database Administrator or Architect
                                                
                        
Database administrators and architects typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for database administrators was $101,510 in May 2023.									                                														The median annual wage for database architects was $134,700 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of database administrators and architects is projected to grow							 8 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 10,200 openings for database administrators and architects are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for database administrators and architects.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of database administrators and architects with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about database administrators and architects by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Database Administrators and Architects Do 
            

			Database administratorsDatabase administrators ensure databases run efficiently.			
Database administrators and architects create or organize systems to store and secure a variety of data, such as financial information and customer shipping records. They also make sure that the data are available to authorized users.
Duties
Database administrators and architects typically do the following:
Identify user needs to create and administer databases
Design and build new databases
Ensure that organizational data are secure
Back up and restore data to prevent data loss
Ensure that databases operate efficiently and without error
Make and test modifications to database structure when needed
Maintain databases and update permissionsDatabase administrators, often called DBAs, make sure that data analysts and other users can easily use databases to find the information they need. They also ensure that systems perform as they should by monitoring database operation and providing support.
Many databases contain personal, proprietary, or financial information. Database administrators often are responsible for planning security measures to protect this important information.
Database architects design and build new databases for systems and applications. They research the technical requirements of an organization during the design phase and then create models for building the database. Finally, they code new data architecture, integrating existing databases or infrastructure, and check for errors or inefficiencies.
The duties of database administrators and database architects may overlap. For example, administrators and architects may be generalists who work on both systems and applications. However, some DBAs specialize in certain tasks, such as maintenance, that vary with an organization and its needs. Two common specialties are as follows:
***System DBAs*** are responsible for the physical and technical aspects of a database, such as installing upgrades and patches to fix program bugs. They ensure that the firm’s database management systems work properly.
***Application DBAs*** do all the tasks of a general DBA focusing solely on a database for a specific application or set of applications, such as customer-service software. They may write or debug programs and must be able to manage the applications that work with the database.
 Work Environment
			Database administratorsDatabase administrators are often referred to as DBAs.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Database administrators held about 85,200 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of database administrators were as follows:
        Computer systems design and related services
                14%Finance and insurance
                13Information
                10Educational services; state, local, and private
                9Management of companies and enterprises
                8Database architects held about 64,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of database architects were as follows:
        Computer systems design and related services
                36%Finance and insurance
                13Management of companies and enterprises
                7Administrative and support services
                6Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services
                6Database administrators and architects work in nearly all industries. For example, in retail they may design databases that track buyers’ shipping information; in healthcare, they may manage databases that secure patients’ medical records.
Work Schedules
Most database administrators and architects work full time.
 How to Become a Database Administrator or Architect

			Database administratorsDatabase administrators usually have a bachelor’s degree in an information- or computer-related subject such as computer science.			
Database administrators (DBAs) and architects typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field.
Education
Database administrators and architects typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as engineering; some DBAs study business. Employers may prefer to hire applicants who have a master’s degree focusing on data or database management, typically either in computer science, information systems, or information technology.
Database administrators and architects need an understanding of database languages, such as Structured Query Language, or SQL. DBAs will need to become familiar with whichever programming language their firm uses.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Certification is typically offered directly from software vendors or vendor-neutral certification providers. Employers may require their database administrators and architects to be certified in the products they use.
Advancement
Database administrators and architects may advance to become computer and information systems managers. Experienced database administrators may advance to become database architects.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills*.**DBAs monitor a database system’s performance to determine when action is needed. They must evaluate information from a variety of sources to decide on an approach.
***Communication skills*.** Most database administrators and architects work on teams and need to convey information effectively to developers, managers, and other workers.
***Detail oriented*.** Working with databases requires an understanding of complex systems, in which a minor error can cause major problems.
***Problem-solving skills*.** When database problems arise, administrators and architects must troubleshoot and correct the problems.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                        Database Administrators and ArchitectsMedian annual wages, May 2023Database architects$134,700  Database administrators and architects$117,450  Computer occupations$104,420  Database administrators$101,510  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for database administrators was $101,510 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $54,320, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $157,710.The median annual wage for database architects was $134,700 in May 2023. 


The lowest 10 percent earned less than $76,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $194,960.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for database administrators in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Computer systems design and related services
                $125,650Finance and insurance
                115,930Management of companies and enterprises
                107,880Information
                106,450Educational services; state, local, and private
                82,910In May 2023, the median annual wages for database architects in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services
                $151,890Administrative and support services
                137,820Finance and insurance
                136,590Computer systems design and related services
                134,780Management of companies and enterprises
                129,930Most database administrators and architects work full time.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                        Database Administrators and ArchitectsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Computer occupations14%  Database architects10%  Database administrators and architects8%  Database administrators7%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of database administrators and architects is projected to grow				 8 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 10,200 openings for database administrators and architects are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Employment growth will be driven by the continued data needs of companies in nearly all sectors of the economy. Database administrators and database architects will be needed to organize and present information to stakeholders in a user-friendly format. As organizations continue to migrate to cloud environments, these administrators and architects will be critical to ensuring proper database design, transition, backup, and security and to ensuring that connections to legacy systems remain intact.
			

                        Employment projections data for     database administrators and architects, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Database administrators and architects**
			—
			149,300
			161,600
			8
			12,300
			—**Database administrators**
			15-1242
			85,200
			91,200
			7
			6,000
			Get data**Database architects**
			15-1243
			64,000
			70,400
			10
			6,400
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Database administrators
					Database architects **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of database administrators and architects. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Computer and Information Systems Managers**
            Computer and information systems managers plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization.
            Bachelor's degree
            $169,510**Computer Network Architects**
            Computer network architects design and implement data communication networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets.
            Bachelor's degree
            $129,840**Computer Programmers**
            Computer programmers write, modify, and test code and scripts that allow computer software and applications to function properly.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,700**Computer Support Specialists**
            Computer support specialists maintain computer networks and provide technical help to computer users.
            See How to Become One
            $60,810**Computer Systems Analysts**
            Computer systems analysts study an organization’s current computer systems and design ways to improve efficiency.
            Bachelor's degree
            $103,800**Financial Analysts**
            Financial analysts guide businesses and individuals in decisions about expending money to attain profit.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,890**Information Security Analysts**
            Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems.
            Bachelor's degree
            $120,360**Network and Computer Systems Administrators**
            Network and computer systems administrators install, configure, and maintain organizations’ computer networks and systems.
            Bachelor's degree
            $95,360**Market Research Analysts**
            Market research analysts study consumer preferences, business conditions, and other factors to assess potential sales of a product or service.
            Bachelor's degree
            $74,680**Operations Research Analysts**
            Operations research analysts use mathematics and logic to help solve complex issues.
            Bachelor's degree
            $83,640**Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers**
            Software developers design computer applications or programs. Software quality assurance analysts and testers identify problems with applications or programs and report defects.
            Bachelor's degree
            $130,160**Web Developers and Digital Designers**
            Web developers create and maintain websites. Digital designers develop, create, and test website or interface layout, functions, and navigation for usability.
            Bachelor's degree
            $92,750
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about database administrators and architects, visit
Association for Computing Machinery
Computing Research Association
IEEE Computer Society
For more information about opportunities for women pursuing information technology careers, visit
National Center for Women & Information Technology
CareerOneStop
For a career video on database administrators and architects, visit
Database Architects

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Data Warehousing SpecialistsDatabase AdministratorsDatabase Architects
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Database Administrators and Architects, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/database-administrators.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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