Database Administrator

Database Administrators organize and manage a company's data.

Database administrators ensure that business data is accurate and available, the database is secure, and database performance satisfies business requirements.

The corporate database is the heart of key business systems that drive payroll, manufacturing, sales, marketing and more, so database administrators are recognized - and rewarded - for playing a crucial role in an organization's success. Beyond database administrators' high salary potential, DBA positions offer the personal satisfaction of solving business problems and seeing - in real-time - how your hard work benefits the firm.

A typical database administration learning plan begins with an undergraduate degree in computer science, databases, computer information systems (CIS) or a similar field of study. A balance of technical, business and communication skills is critical to a database administrator's success and upward mobility, so the next step in a DBA's education is often a graduate degree with an information systems concentration, such as a MBA in Management Information Systems (MIS) or CIS. DBAs can continue to learn and advance their career by getting certified in one or more database management systems (DBMS); in-demand database systems include Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2 and the open-source MySQL. Learn more about DBA education requirements and compare the top-rated database administrator training programs.

a.k.a. DBA | Database Analyst | Database Manager | Oracle DBA | SQL Server Database Administrator | MySQL Admin

DBA Training

Database Administrator Skills & Responsibilities

Typical day-to-day duties and in-demand skill sets for DBAs include the following. Database administrators:

• Implement, support and manage the corporate database.
• Design and configure relational database objects.
• Are responsible for data integrity and availability.
• May design, deploy and monitor database servers.
• Design data distribution and data archiving solutions.
• Ensure database security, including backups & disaster recovery.
• Plan and implement application and data provisioning.
• Transfer database information to integrated mobile devices.
• Some database administrators design and develop the corporate database.
• Some DBAs analyze and report on corporate data to help shape business decisions.
• Produce entity relationship & data flow diagrams, database normalization schemata,
  logical to physical database maps, and data table parameters.
• Database administrators are proficient in one or more of the leading database
  management systems, such as, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2, MySQL and Oracle.

[Top]

Database Administrator Salary

• Average database administrator salary in USA: $82,000

Average salaries for database administrators and related positions:

• Database Administrator salary: $82,000
• SQL Server Database Administrator salary: $90,000
• MySQL Database Administrator salary: $94,000
• IBM DB2 Database Administrator salary: $97,000
• Oracle Database Administrator salary: $98,000
• PeopleSoft Database Administrator salary: $98,000
• Senior SQL Database Administrator salary: $104,000
• Senior Oracle Database Administrator salary: $106,000
• Oracle Applications Specialist DBA salary: $107,000
• Database Administration Team Leader salary: $144,000

Top five best paying U.S. cities for DBAs:

1. San Jose, California | Salary: $94,000
2. Los Angeles, California | Salary: $93,000
3. Raleigh, North Carolina | Salary: $93,000
4. San Francisco, California | Salary: $91,000
5. New Haven, Connecticut | Salary: $88,000

The hourly wage for database administrators ranges from $25 to $85, depending on the DBA's location, proficiency in known database systems, certifications and experience.

Deep dive into database administrator salary ranges.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook 2012 - 2013 • Indeed.com

[Top]

Database Administrator Education Requirements

Database administration positions typically require at least a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS), Computer Science, Database Administration or a related field of study. Many employers prefer to hire MBAs for database administration jobs, because in addition to the extra technical database training, MBAs are versed in a wide range of business domains, e.g., accounting, marketing and management, and they're more adept at communicating with technical and non-technical employees - two traits of highly successful DBAs. Popular MBA concentrations for database administrators include Management Information Systems (MIS), Database Management and CIS. Database administrators can further distinguish themselves and advance their careers with specialized training and certifications in the leading database management systems, i.e., Oracle 11g, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2, Sybase and MySQL.

Research and compare the top-reviewed database administration training programs in the U.S., Canada and online.

[Top]

Database Administrator Training & Degree Programs

Compare the top-rated undergrad & graduate degrees, professional certificates, online training programs and self-paced courses matching the database administrator education requirements and career path.

Computer School	Database Training Program	Course Highlights & Certifications
Request More Info	B.C.I.S. Database Management Method: Online or On-Campus Degree Level: Bachelor's Accredited Program: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes	Gain the Skills and Knowledge for a Career as a Data Analyst, DBA or Database Designer Advanced Data Mining and Data Warehousing using Current IBM & Oracle Database Systems Database Security Techniques & Technologies RDBMS Architecture and Performance Tuning Run Complex Data Queries with Dynamic SQL Soft Skills: Verbal and Written Communication Study Online or one of 95+ Campus Locations Attend Select Courses for a Targeted Education
Request More Info	A.A.I.T. Database Development Method: Online or On-Campus Degree Level: Associate Accredited School: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes	Drive Smarter Decisions-Making through Data Mining and Business Intelligence Analyses Learn Database Design, Development, Installation, Configuration and Administration Utilize SQL to Query, Control and Manipulate Data in Cross-Platform Business Applications Database Security, Backup & Disaster Recovery Core Curriculum inc. Software Development, Business Systems, Networking and Security 6-Week Courses & Degrees Start Year Round
Request More Info	M.S. C.I.S. Database Management & Business Intelligence Method: Online Degree Degree Level: Master Accredited Program: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes Prerequisite: Bachelor's	Advanced Database Administration Training and Database Design in Oracle's Latest DBMS Use BI Analyses, Data Mining and Warehousing to Influence Smarter Business Decisions Write Data Analysis Algorithms in Microsoft SQL Server 2012 & Weka Data-Mining Software Quantitative Methods for Big Data Analysis Database Security and Performance Tuning Business Data Communication and Networks Learn Information Systems Analysis & Design IT Strategy, Management & Team Leadership 2012 Award-Winning Online Learning Platform Online Courses & Degrees Begin Year Round
Request More Info	B.S.I.T. Database Technology Method: Online or On-Campus Degree Level: Bachelor's Accredited School: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes	Oracle 11g Database Management Training Data Mining/Warehousing in Oracle DBMS SQL and PL/SQL Database Programming Database Security, Backup and Recovery Examine Practical Database Case Studies IT Core Curriculum of Networking, Security, Programming, Web Dev & Systems Analysis Online, Campus or Blended Study Format Courses and Programs Begin Year Round
Request More Info	B.S. DBA & Data Center Operations Method: Online Degree Degree Level: Bachelor Accredited School: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes	Provides the Skills and Expertise to Get Hired in the Hot DBA & Data Center Operations Fields Data Center Principles: Environmental Controls, Power Supplies, Backups, Security & Continuity Emerging Trends in Virtualization, Middleware, Cloud Computing, Data Centers & Green Grids Advanced Database Administration Training Data Backup Strategy and Disaster Recovery Develop Database-Driven Business Websites Soft Skills: Oral and Written Communication, Team Leadership, Management & Organization
Request More Info	M.S.I.T. Business Intelligence Method: Online Degree Degree Level: Master's Accredited Program: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes Prerequisite: Bachelor's Degree	Analyze and Interpret Complex Data Trends to Unlock Actionable Business Intelligence Business, Text, Spatial and Web Data Mining Big Data Classification & Pattern Recognition Data Association, Correlation and Clustering Mastery of Business Decision-Making Systems Search Techniques Related to Problem-Solving Data Warehousing Concepts and Algorithms Core Curriculum inc. Databases, Networking, Security, System Analysis & IT Project Mgmt. Kaplan University Career Placement Services
Request More Info	B.S. Database Programming Method: Online Degree Degree Level: Bachelor Accredited Program: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes	Includes Certification Prep & Exams for: OCA: Oracle Certified Associate DBA OCA: Program with PL/SQL MCITP: Database Developer 2008 MCTS: SQL Server 2008, DB Development CompTIA A+, Net+, Linux+ & Security+ MOS: Word, Excel, PPT and Access CIW: Web Foundations Associate Prepare for Career as a Database Developer, DBA or Software Applications Developer Learn C, C++, C# and Java Programming Advanced Database System Design Training Develop Unique Database-Driven Websites Learn Anytime, Anywhere with 24/7 Support
Request More Info	M.I.S.M. Business Info. Management Method: Online Degree Degree Level: Master Accredited School: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes Prerequisite: Bachelor's Degree	Harness Enterprise Information for Effective Business Strategy and Decision-Making Enterprise Business Analytics & Reporting Data Retrieval, Data-Mining & Text-Mining Information Systems Project Management Machine Learning for Predictive Modeling Data Stores, Data Warehouses & Data Marts Information Systems Software Architecture Soft Skills Courses in Team Management, and Effective Oral & Written Communication Skills Earn a Valuable Certificate in Under 2 Years Online Training Programs Begin Year Round
Request More Info	B.S.I.T. Database Management Method: Online Degree Degree Level: Bachelor Accredited School: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes	Provides the Skills and Knowledge to Pursue Microsoft SQL DBA & Oracle DBA Job Roles MS SQL Server Database Administration Oracle Database Administration Training Database Design & Security Coursework Learn Database Concepts in Access 2013 Structured Query Language (SQL) Coding Business Intelligence Training featuring Query Design & Advanced Reporting Techniques Soft Skills: Oral and Written Communication Database Team Leadership & Development Online Courses & Degrees Begin Year Round
Request More Info	M.B.A. Technology Management Method: Online Degree Degree Level: Master Accredited Program: Yes Financial Aid Available: Yes Prerequisite: Bachelor's	Prepare to Lead Organizations in the Planning, Development, Operation & Management of IT Applied Managerial Accounting, Economics, Finance, Marketing and Decision-Making Taught by Successful Business & IT Managers Use IT to Foster a Real Competitive Advantage Advanced Database Management & DBA Skills Networking & Telecommunication Management IT Innovation's Impact on Strategy & Operations IT Management and Team Leadership Training Colorado Tech Named "Best Online MBA" in Graduate Forum's 2012 Top Ten MBA Awards

Find Database Administration Schools

Choose a Subject:
Database Administration Database Design and Development Database Technology Information Systems IBM DB2 Databases Microsoft SQL Server Oracle DBMS Training SQL Databases Information Technology Database Administration and Development Network Administration and Management Mobile App Development Computer Programming Information Security IT Help Desk Support Computer Systems Analyst Health IT Training Project Management Technology Management Graphic Design Web Development Web Design Training Computer Applications Computer Science Degrees Computer and Systems Engineering Computers and Technology Basic Computer Skills Business Administration Accounting Programs Communications and Media Criminal Justice and Legal Culinary Arts Education and Teaching Entrepreneurship Finance Training Healthcare and Nursing High School and GED Programs Liberal Arts Programs Marketing and Advertising Math and Science Project Management Psychology Programs Vocational and Trade

Degree:
All Levels Certificate Programs Diploma Programs Undergraduate Degrees Associate Degrees Bachelor Degrees Graduate Degrees Master Degrees Post-Graduate Degrees Doctoral Degrees

Zip Code:

Learning Format:
Campus or Online Online Campus

[Top]

Database Administrator Certifications

Highly desirable certifications for database administrators include the following:

• MCTS: SQL Server 2008 - Implementation and Maintenance
• MCTS: SQL Server 2008 - BI Development and Maintenance
• MCTS: SQL Server 2008 - Database Development
• MCITP: Database Administrator 2008
• Oracle Database 11g Administrator Certified Associate
• Oracle Database 11g Administrator Certified Professional

DBA Certification Prep

[Top]

Database Administrator Jobs

Your specialized database administration training, experience and certifications qualify you for a variety of DBA positions:

• Database Administrator:Browse and apply to DBA Job Openings
• Junior DBA:Browse and apply to Junior Database Administrator Jobs
• Senior DBA:Browse and apply to Senior Database Administrator Jobs
• Oracle Database Administrator:Browse and apply to Oracle DBA Jobs
• SQL Server Database Administrator:Browse and apply to SQL DBA Jobs
• Database Manager:Browse and apply to Database Management Jobs
• MySQL Database Administrator:Browse and apply to MySQL DBA Jobs
• IBM DB2 Database Administrator:Browse and apply to IBM DB2 Admin Jobs
• Businesses and Hiring Managers:Post jobs and find candidates at a Discount

Search All Jobs

[Top]

Database Administrator Job Outlook

As businesses continue to accumulate record amounts of data, the demand for trained and certified database administrators to store, organize, analyze and secure this data will continue to rise. Employment of database administrators is expected to grow by 31% from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. In addition, as more databases are connected to the Internet and cloud, database security will become increasingly vital and complex, thus a growing number of database administrators and IT professionals with information security training will be hired to protect corporate databases from hackers and other malicious attacks. DBAs with skills and certifications in the latest database systems from top vendors, such as Microsoft and Oracle, will experience the best job prospects.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2012-2013 Occupational Outlook Handbook (BLS.GOV)

[Top]

DBA Related Careers

• Data Scientist
• Website Developer
• Mobile Application Developer
• Software Engineer
• Network Administrator
• IT Manager / CIO

[Top]