Database Specialists


Overview

Introduction

Database specialists design, install, update, modify, maintain, and repair computer database systems to meet the needs of their employers. To do this work they need strong math skills, the ability to work with many variables at once, and a solid understanding of the organizations objectives. They consult with managers to discuss computer equipment purchases, determine requirements for various software programs, and allocate access to the computer system to users. They might also direct training of personnel who regularly use company...

Quick Facts


More

Median Salary

$101,510

More

Employment Prospects

Good

More

Minimum Education Level

Bachelors Degree


More

Experience

Prior experience as a developer or analyst


More

Skills

Computer|Information Management|Math


More

Personality Traits

Problem-Solving|Scientific|Technical

Earnings

A fairly wide range of salaries exists for database specialists. Earnings vary with the size, type, and location of the organization as well as a persons experience, education, and job responsibilities. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), median annual earnings for database administrators were $101,510 in May 2023. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $54,320, while the high...

Work Environment

Database specialists work in modern offices. If they work as consultants, they may travel to client sites as little as once or twice per project or as often as every week. Most duties are performed at a computer at the individuals desk or from home for those who work in remote settings. Travel is occasionally required for conferences and visits to affiliated database locations. Travel requireme...

Outlook

The use of computers and database systems in almost all business settings creates tremendous opportunities for well-qualified database personnel. The staffing firm Robert Half Technology named the related careers of database administrator and data scientist to its 2024 "hottest jobs" list. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that database administrators and architects will ...