How Much Does a DBA Make in 2025?
A DBA or database administrator oversees the design, building, and organization of systems for the storage and security of data. This data, which may be used for various purposes such as finances, shipping records, and other transactions, is made available to authorized users in the industry.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), DBA jobs are expected to grow 9% over the next ten years, equivalent to 9,500 job openings yearly. These job vacancies are made possible by DBAs transferring to other occupations or exiting the labor force.
Salary.com reports that the average annual salary for DBAs in 2025 is $73,000. This guide presents an overview of the salary for DBAs, including salary data in every state and city of the US, key factors that influence it, and proven tips to increase earnings.
What is the Average DBA Salary?
Salary.com reported that the average yearly salary for DBAS or database administrators in the United States for 2025 is $73,000.
2025 Average Salary for DBAs: $73,000 per year ($35 per hour)
As of this writing, the average salary for DBAs is $35 per hour, with hourly rates that can go up to $43 or down to $28. Meanwhile, the average weekly and monthly salaries for DBAs are $1,404 and $6,083, respectively.
What is the Pay Range for a DBA?
Salary.com reveals that the salary range for database administrators starts at $58,672 and can reach as high as $89,812, with most earning between $65,500 to $81,100.
However, it’s also important to note that this salary range for DBAs may vary and is heavily affected by key factors including education, level of experience, geographic location, and occupation demand.
DBA Salary Range: $58,672 to $89,812 per year ($28 to $43 per hour)
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $28 | $1,128 | $4,889 | $58,672 |
| 25th Percentile | $31 | $1,260 | $5,458 | $65,500 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $35 | $1,404 | $6,083 | $73,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $39 | $1,573 | $6,817 | $81,100 |
| 90th Percentile | $43 | $1,727 | $7,484 | $89,812 |
Salary.com also reported that the average total compensation received by employees with the job title database administrator is $106,363. This already includes benefits and average additional cash compensation such as bonuses and time off.
DBA Salary Factors
As mentioned above, several factors can affect database administrator salaries. These include experience, location, and skills. Let’s explore each of these in detail.
Years of Experience
The average salary for DBAs, based on years of experience, ranges from $72,840 per year for entry-level database administrators to $76,290 per year for specialists with 8+ years of experience.
| Levels | Years of Experience | Average Salary per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level DBA | <1 | $72,840 |
| Intermediate Level DBA | 1-2 | $73,663 |
| Senior Level DBA | 2-4 | $75,633 |
| Specialist Level DBA | 5-8 | $76,027 |
| Expert Level DBA | 8+ | $76,290 |
Place of Work
BLS reported that the specific workplace significantly influences the salary for DBAs. For instance, a DBA working in the computer systems design and related services industry can earn as much as $125,650 in 2023. This figure is about 34% higher compared to the DBA salaries in the local and private education services industry.
| Place of Work | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Computer systems design and related services | $125,650 |
| Finance and insurance | $115,930 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | $107,880 |
| Information | $106,450 |
| Education services; local and private | $82,910 |
Skill Set
DBAs with certain in-demand skills are also in line to increase their salaries. For instance, the Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report shows that a DBA with database architecture skills can earn up to 11.27% more than those without.
On the other hand, a DBA having structured query language (SQL) and Oracle systems skills is more likely to land a job with 50.62% and 21.18% demand, respectively.
| Skill | Demand | Salary Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Database Architecture | 20.89% | +11.27% |
| Performance Tuning | 17.47% | +9.89% |
| Oracle | 21.18% | +9.82% |
| Structured Query Language (SQL) | 50.62% | +7.75% |
| Database Administration | 18.81% | +7.53% |
| Disaster Recovery | 17.85% | +6.67% |
DBA Salary by City and State
A city or state must ensure compliance with the state minimum wage; therefore, the choice of location can also significantly impact the earning potential for this job title in the US. Talented DBAs can take advantage of this information to identify the most strategic locations for both living and working.
Highest Paying States for Database Administrators (DBA)
Based on the Salary.com data, the District of Columbia offers the highest average annual salary for DBAs in the United States, at $81,190.
- District of Columbia: $81,190 per year (or $39.03 per hour)
- California: $80,490 per year (or $38.70 per hour)
- New Jersey: $79,990 per year (or $38.46 per hour)
- Alaska: $79,490 per year (or $38.22 per hour)
- Connecticut: $78,690 per year (or $37.83 per hour)
Database Administrator/DBA Salary by State
| State | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $79,490 |
| Alabama | $67,090 |
| Arkansas | $66,490 |
| Arizona | $71,090 |
| California | $80,490 |
| Colorado | $74,390 |
| Connecticut | $78,390 |
| District of Columbia | $81,190 |
| Delaware | $74,090 |
| Florida | $69,290 |
| Georgia | $70,590 |
| Hawaii | $76,290 |
| Iowa | $69,790 |
| Idaho | $68,090 |
| Illinois | $74,690 |
| Indiana | $70,790 |
| Kansas | $69,490 |
| Kentucky | $68,690 |
| Louisiana | $69,390 |
| Massachusetts | $79,390 |
| Maryland | $75,190 |
| Maine | $70,990 |
| Michigan | $71,990 |
| Minnesota | $74,690 |
| Missouri | $69,590 |
| Mississippi | $65,090 |
| Montana | $68,190 |
| North Carolina | $70,090 |
| North Dakota | $72,290 |
| Nebraska | $68,790 |
| New Hampshire | $74,190 |
| New Jersey | $79,990 |
| New Mexico | $67,290 |
| Nevada | $73,290 |
| New York | $77,790 |
| Ohio | $71,390 |
| Oklahoma | $67,490 |
| Oregon | $74,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,790 |
| Rhode Island | $76,190 |
| South Carolina | $68,890 |
| South Dakota | $65,590 |
| Tennessee | $67,590 |
| Texas | $71,490 |
| Utah | $69,390 |
| Virginia | $73,190 |
| Vermont | $71,590 |
| Washington | $78,690 |
| Wisconsin | $72,090 |
| West Virginia | $65,690 |
Highest Paying Cities for Database Administrators
According to the Salary.com data, the city of San Jose, California is the highest paying city for DBAs with $91,590 per year or $44.03 per hour. Recent database administrator salaries show that the 6 highest paying cities are as follows:
- San Jose, California: $91,590 per year (or $44.03 per hour)
- San Francisco, California: $91,190 per year ($43.84 per hour)
- Oakland, California: $88,990 per year ($42.78 per hour)
- New York, New York: $85,190 per year ($40.96 per hour)
- Queens Village, New York: $84,690 per year ($40.72 per hour)
- Paramus, New Jersey: $84,090 per year ($40.43 per hour)
Ways to Increase Your Salary as a DBA
Database administrators have several opportunities to increase their salary by gaining more experience, improving in-demand skills, and exploring growth within the role.
- Venture into other industries: BLS reports a significant difference in salaries between DBAs from the computer systems design ($125,650) and educational services ($82,910) industries, which is almost $43,000.
- Gain expertise in database languages: One major qualification of a database manager is his expertise in database languages such as SQL (Structured Query Language). Moreover, a DBA must be able to familiarize himself with whatever language his company uses in the field.
- Consider working in other states or cities: Different states and cities in the US follow different minimum wage policies, so choosing a state that suits your preferences can help lead to a better career. Salary.com reports that the highest paying state in the US is the District of Columbia with $81,190.
- Develop a strong educational background: DBAs are usually required to earn a bachelor’s degree in the field of computer and information technology. Other employers also require them to have a background in business and engineering, as well as a master’s degree focusing on data or database management.
- Learn highly compensated and in-demand skills: Developing key abilities and in-demand skills such as database architecture, performance tuning, oracle systems, and SQL can effectively increase your salary as a database administrator.
- Know your worth: Negotiating your pay by researching market rates for your current position and experience can increase your salary. As of this writing, the DBA salaries in the US range between $58,672 to $89,812 per year.
The 2023 Current Population Survey conducted by BLS for database administrators reported that most employees are from the male gender. Responses gathered from the company size people reveal that 69.2% of the DBA population is male.
However, this doesn't include anonymous database administrator employees who work as a DBA but choose not to reveal their identity to protect their privacy.
Average National Salaries by Source
As of January 02, 2025, data from five major salary-reporting websites indicate that the national average salary of DBAs in the US is $94,601 (unweighted).
SALARY.COM AVG. SALARY
$73,000/year
INDEED.COM AVG. SALARY
$99,358/year
GLASSDOOR AVG. SALARY
$118,000 /year
PAYSCALE AVG. SALARY
$80,396/year
ZIPRECRUITER AVG. SALARY
$102,253/year
