Database administrator salaries are among the highest base wages in IT, and experienced DBAs and database managers can earn well into the six-figure range. Here is a dynamic look at the database administrator salary landscape, featuring key figures, trends and analyses of the leading salary surveys and national employment data.
Explore the database administrator job description for a deep-dive into this career path.
Historic DBA Salaries
Average salary range for database administrators and related technology professionals for the past three years:
| Job Title | 2020 Salary | 2021 Salary | 2022 Salary | 2-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Database Administrator | $79,250 - $120,250 | $79,750 - $120,500 | $82,750 - $124,500 | + 3.9% |
| Database Developer | $101,250 - $142,250 | $98,000 - $139,000 | $101,000 - $140,750 | - 0.7% |
| Database Manager | $111,250 - $158,500 | $114,500 - $163,250 | $116,250 - $165,500 | + 4.4% |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | $87,500 - $136,250 | $92,000 - $139,000 | $94,500 - $141,500 | + 5.5% |
| Data Architect | $119,750 - $163,500 | $123,250 - $168,500 | $127,750 - $176,500 | + 7.4% |
Historic salary table note: Wages in this table represent the US national average. The lower figure in each range represents the 25th percentile of salary survey respondents (typically those new to the position or working in a less competitive market) while the higher figure in each range represents the 75th percentile (those with greater experience, specialized database skills and credentials).
 | Source: Robert Half Technology 2020, 2021 and 2022 IT Salary Guides |
Skills To Boost Your DBA Salary
Learn these sought-after skill sets to increase your pay in database administration and related careers:
- Proficiency in popular database systems such as Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle & IBM
- Leading BI Platforms such as SAS, Microsoft Power BI & Tableau
- Big Data Analysis Tools like Hadoop and MongoDB
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Data Visualization Skills
- ETL (Extract, Transform, Load)
- SQL Database Development
Database Administrator Salaries by State
| U.S. State / Location | Average Annual Wage | Average Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
Alabama | $82,730 | $39.78 |
Alaska | $92,280 | $44.36 |
Arizona | $93,990 | $45.19 |
Arkansas | $76,760 | $36.91 |
California | $106,250 | $51.08 |
Colorado | $98,780 | $47.49 |
Connecticut | $105,420 | $50.68 |
Delaware | $94,630 | $45.49 |
District of Columbia | $104,010 | $50.00 |
Florida | $93,990 | $45.19 |
Georgia | $88,920 | $42.75 |
Hawaii | $92,650 | $44.55 |
Idaho | $75,250 | $36.18 |
Illinois | $97,700 | $46.97 |
Indiana | $82,000 | $39.42 |
Iowa | $90,260 | $43.39 |
Kansas | $89,040 | $42.81 |
Kentucky | $74,680 | $35.90 |
Louisiana | $94,270 | $45.32 |
Maine | $104,840 | $50.41 |
Maryland | $100,350 | $48.25 |
Massachusetts | $113,750 | $54.69 |
Michigan | $84,430 | $40.59 |
Minnesota | $95,910 | $46.11 |
Mississippi | $77,030 | $37.04 |
Missouri | $87,580 | $42.11 |
Montana | $72,590 | $34.90 |
Nebraska | $87,280 | $41.96 |
Nevada | $84,700 | $40.72 |
New Hampshire | $103,280 | $49.65 |
New Jersey | $124,930 | $60.06 |
New Mexico | $82,300 | $39.57 |
New York | $107,260 | $51.57 |
North Carolina | $98,500 | $47.36 |
North Dakota | $66,860 | $32.15 |
Ohio | $89,080 | $42.83 |
Oklahoma | $74,200 | $35.67 |
Oregon | $97,980 | $47.11 |
Pennsylvania | $82,000 | $39.42 |
Puerto Rico | $48,340 | $23.24 |
Rhode Island | $107,040 | $51.46 |
South Carolina | $83,180 | $39.99 |
South Dakota | $83,280 | $40.04 |
Tennessee | $87,850 | $42.24 |
Texas | $98,910 | $47.56 |
Utah | $90,850 | $43.68 |
Vermont | $80,360 | $38.64 |
Virginia | $100,930 | $48.52 |
Washington | $109,490 | $52.64 |
West Virginia | $70,110 | $33.71 |
Wisconsin | $87,160 | $41.90 |
Wyoming | $71,800 | $34.52 |
 | Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Top Paying Cities for Database Administrators
These cities and metropolitan areas pay the highest average wage to database administrators:
- Trenton, New Jersey: $123,540
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $121,430
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $120,280
- New York City Tri-State Area, NY-NJ-PA: $119,470
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA: $119,280
- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH: $116,720
| Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Database Salaries by DBMS and Experience
Compare database administrator salaries by known database management systems, job role and experience:
- Junior Database Administrator: $78,000
- Database Administrator: $97,000
- IBM DB2 Database Admin: $110,000
- SQL Database Administrator: $111,000
- Oracle Database Administrator: $114,000
- MySQL Database Administrator: $121,000
- Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrator: $127,000
- Database Administration Manager: $128,000
- Senior Database Administrator: $141,000
| Source: Glassdoor.com |
Database Salaries vs. Other IT Job Roles
- Technology Manager: $151,983
- Systems Architect: $147,901
- Cloud Engineer: $140,571
- Cyber Security Engineer: $135,059
- Data Architect: $128,835
- Data Scientist: $120,650
- Software Developer: $120,204
- DevOps Engineer: $119,201
- MIS Manager: $119,186
- IT Project Manager: $118,517
- Systems Engineer: $112,407
- Database Administrator: $111,362
- Business Intelligence Analyst: $101,497
- Computer Programmer: $97,320
- Network Engineer: $93,373
- Application Support Engineer: $91,176
- Systems Administrator: $88,642
- Data Analyst: $84,779
- Technical Support Engineer: $77,169
| Source: 2022 Tech Salary Report by Dice.com |
Database Administration Training
Regardless of your industry and specializations, database administration is a sought after profession offering top-tier earning potential and significant opportunities for upward mobility. Start on your path to a lucrative database administrator salary today; browse our directory of database training and degree programs and connect with an admissions advisor to build your ideal learning plan.
Bachelor's in Computer Science - Data Analysis
- Gain the Skills and Credentials to Pursue Sought-After Careers in Data Management
- Create and Manage Structured Databases
- Analyze Data to Meet Organizational Goals
- Advanced Statistics for STEM Disciplines
- Use Emerging Tech in Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to Analyze Big Data
Master of Science in IT - Analytics
- Use analytics, statistics & forecasting to drive smarter business decisions
- Identify relevant data and sources to solve complex business problems
- Address global, ethical, legal & cultural factors in data analytics
- Create effective data visualizations and stakeholder presentations
- Must have a bachelor's degree to apply. GRE / GMAT not required.
Master's in Technology Management
- Prepare to Lead IT Personnel and Wield Emerging Technologies to Achieve Business Goals
- Choose from courses like:
- Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
- Cyber Security Threats & Vulnerabilities
- Managing Diverse Organizations in a Flat World
- Cloud Computing and Virtualization
- Computer Systems Analysis
- Cryptography & Network Security
- Must have a bachelor's degree to apply. GRE / GMAT not required
Google Data Analytics Pro Certificate
- Includes Certification Preparation for:
- Google Data Analytics Professional
- Learn to use Popular Data Analytics Tools inc. Tableau, SQL, R Programming, Spreadsheets & Slideshows
- Clean, Organize and Analyze Complex Data Sets
- Data Visualization & Stakeholder Presentation
- Constructive Questioning and Structured Thinking
DBA Career Resources
- Database administrator job description
- DBA education requirements
- Database technology training programs
- Current database administrator job openings
- Database administrator job outlook
- Database administration certifications
Subject Matter Expert Contributor
Daniel Greenspan is an IT education specialist and the founder of ITCareerFinder. Working closely with IT professionals, world-class trainers and tech executives since 2005 has given him a unique perspective into the information technology job market and the skills and credentials IT pros need to succeed.
Web-based Database Administrator salary data refreshed annually.
Salary survey data updated annually upon publication dates.