Database Administrators
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.
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Active Learning
- Speaking
- Programming
Key knowledge
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Telecommunications
- Engineering and Technology
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
What the work involves
- Develop standards and guidelines for the use and acquisition of software and to protect vulnerable information.
- Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes.
- Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications.
- Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification or disclosure.
- Approve, schedule, plan, and supervise the installation and testing of new products and improvements to computer systems, such as the installation of new databases.
- Train users and answer questions.
- Specify users and user access levels for each segment of database.
- Develop data models describing data elements and how they are used, following procedures and using pen, template, or computer software.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Conventional, Investigative, Enterprising.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- Bachelor's Degree (89% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (52.7%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months (40%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 4: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Database Administrators is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Low | Lower on contact with others than 68% of occupations compared | 71% of surveyed respondents chose “Contact with others most of the time” |
| Dealing with the public | Very low | Lower on dealing with the public than 91% of occupations compared | — |
| Teamwork | High | Higher on teamwork than 78% of occupations compared | — |
| Freedom to make decisions | High | Higher on freedom to make decisions than 79% of occupations compared | 56% of surveyed respondents chose “A lot of freedom” |
| Time pressure | Very low | Lower on time pressure than 94% of occupations compared | — |
| Conflict situations | Low | Lower on conflict situations than 77% of occupations compared | — |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Very low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 83% of occupations compared | — |
| Consequence of error | Very high | Higher on consequence of error than 86% of occupations compared | — |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: very low
- Conflict situations: low
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: very low
- Consequence of error: very high
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0%
- Occasional contact with others: 4.02%
- Contact with others about half the time: 2.16%
- Contact with others most of the time: 70.66%
- Constant contact with others: 23.16%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2023
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Fairly important: 1.78%
- Important: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Very important: 8.06%
- Extremely important: 2.78%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2023
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 0%
- Fairly important: 0.79%
- Important: 2.2%
- Very important: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Extremely important: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
n = 21, Incumbent 08/2023
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 0%
- Very little freedom: 0.67%
- Limited freedom: 5.81%
- Some freedom: 37.53%
- A lot of freedom: 55.99%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2023
Time pressure
- Never: 0%
- Once a year or more but not every month: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a month or more but not every week: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a week or more but not every day: 22.31%
- Every day: 1.3%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2023
Conflict situations
- Never: 4.29%
- Once a year or more but not every month: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a month or more but not every week: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a week or more but not every day: 8.51%
- Every day: 0%
n = 22, Incumbent 08/2023
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a year or more but not every month: 22.94%
- Once a month or more but not every week: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a week or more but not every day: 12.54%
- Every day: 0.17%
n = 20, Incumbent 08/2023
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 1.07%
- Fairly serious: 6.45%
- Serious: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Very serious: 7.77%
- Extremely serious: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
n = 21, Incumbent 08/2023
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O*NET-SOC 15-1242.00 · SOC 15-1242 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8