Database Administrator Salary
Database Administrators earn a median $104,620 a year nationally. Computer and Mathematical Occupations
What database administrators do
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.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.1% (slower than average)
- Openings per year
- 3,300
- Self-employed
- 2%
Employment of database administrators is projected to shrink 0.1% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 3,300 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Database Administrator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,186
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,486
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,517
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$82,430
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,230 | $28.96 | $50,575 |
| 25th percentile | $79,610 | $38.27 | $64,836 |
| Median (50th) | $104,620 | $50.30 | $82,430 |
| 75th percentile | $135,460 | $65.13 | $103,853 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,320 | $78.52 | $122,895 |
Best cities for database administrators (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $122,390 | $94,920 | $92,074 | 2,430 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $121,550 | $88,209 | $78,364 | 3,630 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $108,750 | $79,060 | $72,610 | 3,730 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Dallas, TX — $122,390
- New York, NY — $121,550
- Washington, DC — $108,750
Database Administrator salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | $135,750 | +38.7% | $98,908 | $75,450 – $149,950 | 1,200 |
| Massachusetts | $129,300 | +10.1% | $93,398 | $69,380 – $173,210 | 2,310 |
| New Jersey | $125,860 | −2.4% | $91,464 | $69,080 – $176,130 | 1,810 |
| Maryland | $124,300 | +1.8% | $90,640 | $73,650 – $172,110 | 2,300 |
| District of Columbia | $118,540 | −7.7% | $85,115 | $74,360 – $154,750 | 560 |
| Colorado | $118,340 | −1.3% | $87,584 | $61,930 – $164,780 | 1,220 |
| Washington | $118,140 | +3.0% | $91,941 | $72,170 – $170,710 | 1,730 |
| Tennessee | $115,500 | +13.6% | $90,084 | $59,050 – $163,600 | 2,020 |
| Texas | $114,400 | +4.0% | $89,310 | $59,950 – $161,590 | 6,430 |
| North Carolina | $113,900 | +5.0% | $84,923 | $62,430 – $160,160 | 1,920 |
| California | $113,060 | +1.8% | $80,613 | $62,410 – $178,310 | 7,240 |
| Nevada | $109,670 | +26.1% | $85,983 | $69,330 – $145,810 | 380 |
| Alaska | $108,810 | +16.8% | $85,378 | $66,190 – $138,330 | 90 |
| Connecticut | $108,270 | +6.2% | $80,618 | $65,400 – $157,350 | 810 |
| Georgia | $106,810 | +0.7% | $79,050 | $54,850 – $160,070 | 2,460 |
| Rhode Island | $106,020 | +2.1% | $79,981 | $63,430 – $154,860 | 280 |
| New York | $105,900 | −1.0% | $78,123 | $60,090 – $178,580 | 3,590 |
| Illinois | $104,650 | +3.5% | $77,416 | $59,990 – $163,970 | 2,340 |
| Arizona | $104,280 | +8.3% | $79,793 | $59,120 – $155,290 | 1,120 |
| Vermont | $104,230 | +2.0% | $77,737 | $69,280 – $130,990 | 120 |
| Florida | $104,120 | +6.4% | $82,078 | $56,300 – $161,090 | 3,810 |
| Iowa | $101,210 | +3.6% | $76,837 | $58,440 – $156,540 | 360 |
| Delaware | $100,910 | +0.7% | $74,501 | $65,090 – $167,520 | 670 |
| Minnesota | $100,700 | +3.6% | $74,348 | $61,120 – $151,590 | 1,020 |
| Missouri | $100,270 | +14.5% | $75,595 | $57,730 – $150,490 | 1,140 |
| Oregon | $100,260 | −2.3% | $71,420 | $61,000 – $140,170 | 1,060 |
| Kansas | $100,170 | −11.1% | $74,510 | $65,170 – $159,650 | 440 |
| Pennsylvania | $100,110 | −7.1% | $76,184 | $58,780 – $158,360 | 2,450 |
| Nebraska | $100,020 | +8.2% | $75,523 | $63,610 – $141,860 | 610 |
| Wisconsin | $100,020 | +1.1% | $75,274 | $62,440 – $149,430 | 1,220 |
| Michigan | $99,830 | +2.0% | $75,068 | $58,540 – $150,140 | 1,150 |
| New Mexico | $98,450 | +3.8% | $74,596 | $66,470 – $139,250 | 570 |
| Louisiana | $98,270 | +13.7% | $75,401 | $48,910 – $150,900 | 290 |
| Ohio | $97,190 | +3.4% | $75,313 | $49,960 – $158,910 | 1,860 |
| Oklahoma | $95,320 | +23.8% | $72,144 | $57,580 – $134,990 | 790 |
| Alabama | $93,900 | +6.0% | $70,459 | $60,500 – $134,810 | 1,840 |
| South Carolina | $93,640 | +1.0% | $70,244 | $54,040 – $149,000 | 990 |
| Virginia | $93,320 | −11.1% | $69,929 | $60,840 – $160,190 | 5,940 |
| New Hampshire | $92,110 | −24.4% | $73,629 | $60,670 – $145,290 | 250 |
| Indiana | $90,090 | +7.8% | $69,580 | $56,710 – $144,520 | 930 |
| Mississippi | $87,790 | +1.6% | $67,811 | $50,740 – $129,160 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $87,390 | +4.1% | $67,368 | $47,150 – $139,840 | 650 |
| Idaho | $85,660 | +8.7% | $65,660 | $50,460 – $138,930 | 180 |
| Hawaii | $85,500 | −8.5% | $64,011 | $51,050 – $137,180 | 100 |
| Montana | $83,120 | +2.7% | $63,970 | $71,740 – $104,300 | 300 |
| South Dakota | $82,540 | −3.9% | $66,897 | $64,140 – $110,130 | 170 |
| Arkansas | $82,480 | +3.5% | $63,851 | $53,690 – $127,850 | 420 |
| Wyoming | $82,480 | +17.9% | $66,855 | $42,890 – $115,820 | 100 |
| North Dakota | $78,730 | +3.0% | $63,941 | $57,320 – $122,360 | 80 |
| West Virginia | $73,490 | +12.4% | $57,923 | $48,110 – $121,010 | 240 |
| Maine | $70,500 | −8.4% | $54,850 | $51,640 – $118,950 | 260 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network and Computer Systems Administrator | $99,130 | Bachelor's degree | -4.1% |
| Computer Network Architect | $134,050 | Bachelor's degree | +7.7% |
| Database Architect | $139,500 | Bachelor's degree | +9.4% |
| Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester | $104,300 | Bachelor's degree | +5.7% |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $104,000 | Bachelor's degree | +6.0% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $105,850 | Bachelor's degree | +7.9% |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 | Bachelor's degree | -7.3% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $116,580 | Bachelor's degree | +5.1% |
| Web Developer | $92,650 | Bachelor's degree | +3.8% |
| Information Security Analyst | $129,180 | Bachelor's degree | +21.0% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a database administrator make?
The national median salary for database administrators is $104,620 a year ($50.30 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $60,230 and the top 10% earn over $163,320. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays database administrators the most?
Utah has the highest median pay at $135,750. After taxes and local prices, Dallas, TX offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many database administrators are there in the U.S.?
About 69,990 people work as database administrators nationwide.