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 other management officials 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 use...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$90,070

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

Bachelors Degree


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Experience

Prior experience as a developer or analyst


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Skills

Computer|Information Management|Math


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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, median annual earnings for database administrators were $90,070 in May 2018. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $50,340, while the highest pai...

Work Environment

Database specialists work in modern offices, usually located next to the computer room. 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. Travel is occasionally required for conferences and visits to affiliated database locations. Travel requirements vary...

Outlook

The use of computers and database systems in almost all business settings creates tremendous opportunities for well-qualified database personnel. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that database administrators will experience faster than average job growth from 2018 to 2028. According to the DOL, "the increasing popularity of database-as-a-service, which allows database administration ...