Database Administrators

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$101,510 Median Wage (2023)
5,300 Projected job openings (2023-2033)
8.2% Projected growth (2023-2033)

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

Experience Requirements Overview

  • Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
  • A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
  • Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
  • Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

Detailed Work Activities

  • Develop performance metrics or standards related to information technology.
  • Create databases to store electronic data.
  • Update computer database information.
  • Assess database performance.
  • Modify software programs to improve performance.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

  • 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.
  • Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications.
  • Train users and answer questions.
  • Provide technical support to junior staff or clients.
  • Approve, schedule, plan, and supervise the installation and testing of new products and improvements to computer systems, such as the installation of new databases.
  • Develop standards and guidelines for the use and acquisition of software and to protect vulnerable information.
  • Write and code logical and physical database descriptions and specify identifiers of database to management system, or direct others in coding descriptions.
  • Develop data models describing data elements and how they are used, following procedures and using pen, template, or computer software.
  • Select and enter codes to monitor database performance and to create production databases.
  • Identify, evaluate and recommend hardware or software technologies to achieve desired database performance.
  • Review procedures in database management system manuals to make changes to database.
  • Identify and evaluate industry trends in database systems to serve as a source of information and advice for upper management.
  • Review workflow charts developed by programmer analyst to understand tasks computer will perform, such as updating records.
  • Revise company definition of data as defined in data dictionary.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 28.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.