Keep the data that powers organizations running securely, reliably, and fast
Database Administrators manage, optimize, and secure the database systems that store and serve an organization's critical data. They handle installation, configuration, performance tuning, backup and recovery, security, and high-availability architecture. In 2026, the role has evolved to encompass cloud-managed databases, distributed systems, and database reliability engineering alongside traditional DBA duties.
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Career Ladder
Junior DBA → Database Administrator → Senior DBA → Principal DBA → Head of Data Infrastructure
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Salary Growth
5
Levels
240K
Top Salary
11+ years+
Years
Skills you need to develop and courses to get there
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Go to Career PathTimeline: 0-2 years | Entry Level Base: $70,000 - $95,000/year With bonuses: $73,000 - $105,000 Top markets (SF/NYC): $85,000 - $115,000 Monitor database health, performance…
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Trends, AI impact, prospects
Open positions globally: 95,000+ Annual growth rate: 8-12% Average time to fill: 40-55 days Remote positions: 70-80% of all listings Tech: Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Oracle,…
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