Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
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About this role
Database Administrator is a professional role within the function in the Computer and Mathematical job family.
Typical entry preparation: Bachelor's Degree and up to 2 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
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, modification or disclosure.
Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance.
Specify users and user access levels for each segment of database.
Test changes to database applications or systems.
Top skills:Critical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningActive Learning
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Database Administrator pay by experience level
Entry level$62,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$82,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$108,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$140,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$169,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-0.7%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
3,800
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Database Administrator salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
17,380 workers
$124,500
Computer Systems Design and Related Services
10,430 workers
$128,500
Educational Services
7,100 workers
$94,500
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
6,240 workers
$110,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
5,320 workers
$123,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
5,320 workers
$123,500
Insurance Carriers and Related Activities
4,150 workers
$117,000
Administrative and Support Services
4,030 workers
$116,500
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
3,860 workers
$100,000
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
3,260 workers
$102,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2021 to 2025: $96,710 to $104,620.
+8.2% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$62,500
Early career25th percentile
$82,500
Median50th percentile
$108,500
Experienced75th percentile
$140,000
Top earners90th percentile
$169,000
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Critical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningActive Learning
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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, modification or disclosure.
Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance.
Specify users and user access levels for each segment of database.
Test changes to database applications or systems.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$114,000
2027$118,000
2028$122,000
2029$126,500
2030$131,000
2031$135,500
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
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The median market pay for a Database Administrator in the United States is about $114,000 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Database Administrator?
Most Database Administrator pay falls between about $82,500 (25th percentile) and $140,000 (75th percentile), with top earners above $169,000.
What does a Database Administrator do?
Core responsibilities include: modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes; and plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification or disclosure.
Is pay for Database Administrator roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $96,710 in 2021 to $104,620 in 2025, a change of +8.2% in nominal dollars.
How this role compares
Database Administrator pays 8% below the average across 38 roles in the Computer and Mathematical job family (family average $123,500).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Database Administrator make?
The average base salary for a Database Administrator in the United States is $114,000 per year, or about $54.81 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $82,500 and $140,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Computer and Mathematical roles?
The Computer and Mathematical job family averages $123,500 across 38 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Database Administrator pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
