Computer and Mathematical Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Wide pay band SOC 15-1242

Database Administrators

The published band from $60,230 to $163,320 is the distinctive signal for this role, not a twin of Software Developers.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Database Administrators: Software Developers ($136K) , Network and Computer Systems Administrators ($99K) , Mathematicians ($127K) , Statisticians ($106K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Database Administrators publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 15-1242 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes
  2. 2. Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, m…
  3. 3. Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance
  4. 4. Specify users and user access levels for each segment of database
  5. 5. Test changes to database applications or systems
  6. 6. Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications
  7. 7. Train users and answer questions
  8. 8. Provide technical support to junior staff or clients
  9. 9. Approve, schedule, plan, and supervise the installation and testing of new products and improvements to computer systems, such as the ins…
  10. 10. Develop standards and guidelines for the use and acquisition of software and to protect vulnerable information
  11. 11. Write and code logical and physical database descriptions and specify identifiers of database to management system, or direct others in c…
  12. 12. Develop data models describing data elements and how they are used, following procedures and using pen, template, or computer software

Database Administrators: O*NET ranks Critical Thinking first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 15-1242 - lead skill Critical Thinking at 3.9 ; lead knowledge Computers and Electronics. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Critical Thinking 3.9
  2. 2. Complex Problem Solving 3.9
  3. 3. Reading Comprehension 3.8
  4. 4. Active Listening 3.8
  5. 5. Judgment and Decision Making 3.8
  6. 6. Active Learning 3.5
  7. 7. Speaking 3.4
  8. 8. Programming 3.4

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Computers and Electronics 4.8
  2. 2. English Language 4.0
  3. 3. Customer and Personal Service 3.9
  4. 4. Mathematics 3.5
  5. 5. Telecommunications 3.5
  6. 6. Engineering and Technology 3.5
Published pay band (10th to 90th)
$60,230 to $163,320
median $104,620 · ~2.7× spread
$105K
National median
↓ -1%
Growth 2024-2034
3,800
Annual openings
69,990
Estimated US jobs
Software Developers
Highest-pay peer · $136K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education Bachelor's degree

Top Paying States for Database Administrators

1. Washington $118,140
2. Texas $114,400
3. District of Columbia $118,540
4. Utah $135,750
5. Tennessee $115,500
6. Colorado $118,340
7. New Jersey $125,860
8. Maryland $124,300
9. Massachusetts $129,300
10. North Carolina $113,900

Other Computer and Mathematical Occupations titles

  1. 1. Software Developers $135,980
  2. 2. Mathematicians $126,710
  3. 3. Statisticians $105,650
  4. 4. Computer Network Architects $134,050
  5. 5. Computer Systems Analysts $105,850
  6. 6. Network and Computer Systems Administrators $99,130

The OEWS band for Database Administrators runs from $60,230 (10th) to $163,320 (90th), about 2.7× wide, with median $104,620. That spread, not the midpoint alone, is the distinctive published fact.

Employment Projections expect -1% change between 2024 and 2034 (declining vs baseline 3.1%). About 3,800 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Washington at $118,140. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Software Developers at $135,980. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Database Administrators pay-rank #12 in Computer and Mathematical Occupations

Database Administrators sits at pay-rank #12 of 21 detailed Computer and Mathematical Occupations, the middle third of the major-group median table. ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.

Other mid-table titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Database Administrators is unusually wide, so the state map and peer comparison carry more signal than the median alone.

Database Administrators salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 15-1242

Washington · top state for Database Administrators

$118K published median

Texas · #2 state pay

$114K · behind Washington

Software Developers

Highest-pay peer vs Database Administrators · $136K

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Lower-pay peer beside Database Administrators · $99K

Compare Database Administrators

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Database Administrators with another occupation →

Pay-band next reads

Entry-Level vs Experienced Pay

What percentile bands reveal

Using Salary Data for Negotiation

Leverage BLS percentiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Database Administrators mid-table among Computer and Mathematical Occupations? ▼
Yes: pay-rank #12 of 21 detailed Computer and Mathematical Occupations, the middle third. Mid-table neighbors: Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers ($104K), Web and Digital Interface Designers ($104K), Statisticians ($106K), Computer Systems Analysts ($106K). ROW_NUMBER on median; title breaks ties.
What do database administrators do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Database Administrators. Leading ones include: Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes; Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, m…; Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance; Specify users and user access levels for each segment of database. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for database administrators? ▼
For SOC 15-1242, O*NET importance scores lead with Critical Thinking (3.9), Complex Problem Solving (3.9), Reading Comprehension (3.8), Active Listening (3.8). Knowledge areas emphasize Computers and Electronics, English Language, Customer and Personal Service. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
How wide is the published pay band for Database Administrators? ▼
OEWS places the 10th percentile at $60,230 and the 90th at $163,320 for Database Administrators (2.7× spread). The national median is $104,620. OEWS does not isolate experience, employer, or geography as the cause of that spread.
What employment change does BLS publish for Database Administrators? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Database Administrators is -1%. Projected annual openings: about 3,800. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: declining.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Database Administrators? ▼
BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Database Administrators. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Database Administrators? ▼
Washington ($118,140), Texas ($114,400), District of Columbia ($118,540) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Database Administrators card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 15-1242. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Database Administrators. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics