How much does a database administrator make?
The median database administrator in the United States earns $104,620 per year, about $50.30 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all database administrators earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 15-1242.
Database administrator salary range
Pay for database administrators spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $60,230 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $163,320. The average (mean) wage of $110,090 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,230 | $28.96 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $79,610 | $38.28 | |
| Median (50th) | $104,620 | $50.30 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $135,460 | $65.13 | |
| 90th percentile | $163,320 | $78.52 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for database administrators (SOC 15-1242), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Database administrator salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Database administrators earn the most in Utah at $135,750 a year, and the least in Maine at $70,500. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | $135,750 | 1,200 |
| Massachusetts | $129,300 | 2,310 |
| New Jersey | $125,860 | 1,810 |
| Maryland | $124,300 | 2,300 |
| District of Columbia | $118,540 | 560 |
| Colorado | $118,340 | 1,220 |
| Washington | $118,140 | 1,730 |
| Tennessee | $115,500 | 2,020 |
| Texas | $114,400 | 6,430 |
| North Carolina | $113,900 | 1,920 |
| California | $113,060 | 7,240 |
| Nevada | $109,670 | 380 |
| Alaska | $108,810 | 90 |
| Connecticut | $108,270 | 810 |
| Georgia | $106,810 | 2,460 |
| Rhode Island | $106,020 | 280 |
| New York | $105,900 | 3,590 |
| Illinois | $104,650 | 2,340 |
| Arizona | $104,280 | 1,120 |
| Vermont | $104,230 | 120 |
| Florida | $104,120 | 3,810 |
| Iowa | $101,210 | 360 |
| Delaware | $100,910 | 670 |
| Minnesota | $100,700 | 1,020 |
| Missouri | $100,270 | 1,140 |
| Oregon | $100,260 | 1,060 |
| Kansas | $100,170 | 440 |
| Pennsylvania | $100,110 | 2,450 |
| Nebraska | $100,020 | 610 |
| Wisconsin | $100,020 | 1,220 |
| Michigan | $99,830 | 1,150 |
| New Mexico | $98,450 | 570 |
| Louisiana | $98,270 | 290 |
| Ohio | $97,190 | 1,860 |
| Oklahoma | $95,320 | 790 |
| Alabama | $93,900 | 1,840 |
| South Carolina | $93,640 | 990 |
| Virginia | $93,320 | 5,940 |
| New Hampshire | $92,110 | 250 |
| Indiana | $90,090 | 930 |
| Mississippi | $87,790 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $87,390 | 650 |
| Idaho | $85,660 | 180 |
| Hawaii | $85,500 | 100 |
| Montana | $83,120 | 300 |
| South Dakota | $82,540 | 170 |
| Arkansas | $82,480 | 420 |
| Wyoming | $82,480 | 100 |
| North Dakota | $78,730 | 80 |
| West Virginia | $73,490 | 240 |
| Maine | $70,500 | 260 |
State median wages for database administrators (SOC 15-1242), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for database administrators
The BLS projects employment of database administrators to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 0.1%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 75,000 jobs in 2025 moving toward 74,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 3,300 openings a year for database administrators. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a database administrator
The typical entry-level education for database administrators is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a database administrator earns
Seniority, employer, location, and specialization matter most. Workers at large tech firms and in expensive metros like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York cluster near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Utah, $135,750) and the lowest (Maine, $70,500) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 69,990 people work as database administrators in the United States. At $104,620 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Database administrator salary FAQ
How much does a database administrator make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a database administrator is $50.30. The middle half of database administrators earn between $38.28 and $65.13 per hour.
What is the highest database administrator salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of database administrators earn more than $163,320 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a database administrator make a year?
The median annual salary for a database administrator is $104,620. The average (mean) wage of $110,090 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a database administrator a well paid job?
At $104,620 a year, a database administrator earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 69,990 people work as database administrators in the United States.
Which state pays database administrators the most?
Utah has the highest median salary for database administrators at $135,750 a year. Massachusetts ($129,300) and New Jersey ($125,860) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a database administrator a good career?
Employment of database administrators is projected to shrink 0.1% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 3,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a database administrator?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for database administrators as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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