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.
Database Administrator is a professional role in the Computer and Mathematical job family, focused on Database Administrator work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Database Administrators do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
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 salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
17,380 workers
$124,500
Finance and Insurance
8,060 workers
$124,500
Educational Services
7,100 workers
$94,500
Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS
6,240 workers
$110,000
Information
5,880 workers
$122,500
State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
5,700 workers
$101,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
5,320 workers
$123,500
Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
5,180 workers
$106,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Database Administrator pays 6% below the average across 21 roles in the Computer and Mathematical job family (family average $121,000).
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 $121,000 across 21 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.
