Database Administrator

Database Administrator Career Overview

Database administrators (DBAs) design, manage and maintain databases allowing users to access information in a timely fashion. Databases are a collection of computer files containing information that an organization wishes to monitor, such as sales records and inventory figures. In a sense, a database resembles a very well-organized electronic filing cabinet in which powerful software, known as a database management system (DBMS), helps manage the cabinet’s contents. An important aspect of database administration is ensuring reports and queries can be quickly retrieved from the database. Such reports and queries include determining which products have the highest demand or which division is the most profitable. This then makes the database administrator of extreme value to the organization as such reports and queries provide management with real-time information for making important decisions, which in turn can have a great impact on the success of the organization. A DBA earns between less than $37,000 to more than $100,000 and works an average of 40 hours per week. With the world’s constant demand and generation of data in areas such as healthcare records, police criminal records, immigration records, library records, and e-commerce records, database administrators are in high demand. "Database administrator" is the third fastest growing job in its category with a 29% increase in demand by 2016. The demand and pay for database administrators is also set to increase in the future with the increasing complexity, required knowledge and skills for the job.

Database Administrator Education & Training

The prerequisite for a job as a database administrator by most employers is a college degree in Computer Science, Information Science or Management Information Systems. An Associate’s Degree will not be sufficient if you are seeking to get into this career. A strong knowledge of Oracle is important as it has become close to an industry standard in the field. With the increasing popularity of e-commerce ventures and migration by traditional ‘brick and mortar’ businesses as well as the rise of many online-only ‘click and mortar’ businesses, employers also now increasingly prefer candidates with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Information Systems. In terms of certification, employers value the Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) the most, as candidates who possess this have median average earnings of roughly $77,000, higher than other certifications such as the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA).

Database Administrator Career & Salary

Database administrators take home a decent salary. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, database administrators earn an average of $65,606 annually. However, compared with the other computer and mathematical science occupations which includes computer programmers and statisticians, database administrators have the 8th highest average annual earnings out of the 11 occupations studied within its category. The highest average annual earnings of this category go to computer and research scientists (close to $90,000) and the lowest average earnings go to “miscellaneous mathematical statisticians”. With over 10 years of experience, database administrators’ median salary may rise to over $80,000. The most valued skills by employers is proficiency in the operating system UNIX and the DBMS Oracle, as the median salary for Database Administrators who are proficient in these fields are over $75,000, the highest compared with other skills such as proficiency in Microsoft Access and SQL. The highest paying state for database administrators is California with a median salary of $77,088.

Data Communications Analyst Career

Network systems analyst analyzes, designs, tests, and evaluates network systems, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), Internet, intranet, and other data communications systems.

• Job duties for a data communications analyst include performing network modeling, analysis, and planning. Researching and recommending network and data communications hardware and software. A network systems analyst may supervise computer programmers.
• Some of the most important skill sets you should posses as a network systems analyst includes problem-solving, decision-making, leadership, and logic and reasoning skills.
• Most employers require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Having knowledge of the technical aspects of the job is essential

Characteristics of Database Administrators

You will succeed as a database administrator if you are studious and willing to learn constantly, as database technologies, programming languages and operating systems, all critical aspects of working as a database administrator, are constantly evolving. Familiarity with a range of DBMS packages and operating systems is also important as the usage of these may vary with firms. Good communications skills and prior work experience are also important, as the BLS highlights these as two qualities highly desired by employers. With the increased threat of website hacking and credit card fraud, specialization in security and disaster recovery has also become important to employers. The IBM Certified Advanced Database Administrator professional certification is one of the many advanced DBA certification which can assure employers of a candidate’s training in database security. Database administration is a good choice for those who seek a challenging and constantly evolving, good-paying career with great job security.

Career Fields/Specializations

Network Planner Career

Network planning and design is an iterative process, encompassing topological design, network-synthesis, and network-realization, and is aimed at ensuring that a new network or service meets the needs of the subscriber and operator. The process can be tailored according to each new network or service. This is an extremely important process which must be performed before the establishment of a new telecommunications network or service.

• Since you will be working as part of a larger team, the ability to work in a group environment is important, in addition to communication and interpersonal skills.
• Other traits that are commonly looked for in a network planner are analytical and logical thinking, organizational and multitasking skills.

Database Engineer Career

A database engineering professional develops databases and relational databases for users by identifying their requirements, database tasks, identifying data needed to support tasks, and mapping the data to tables. For relational database proficiency, technicians identify key fields and relationships, and solve complex database relationships.

• As a database engineer you should have strong analytical problem solving skills, and the ability to multitask.
• Since you will be explaining and documenting the database-related contents of the deployment and operations documentation to its diverse audiences, excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.
• In addition to at least a bachelor's degree in software/systems engineering, computer science or a relevant subject matter, employers are looking for practical hands-on training and experience in designing and implementing data and software components.
• Knowledge of fundamental Structured Query Language (SQL), open source with MySQL, Linux and Unix, and the management of an Apache server are the software capabilities you should have as a database engineer.

Telecommunications Career

Telecommunications specialists (TCSs) design voice and data communication systems, supervise installation of these systems, and provide maintenance and service to clients after installation. Systems can range from a connection between two offices on different floors of the same building to networking databases, and voicemail and electronic mail systems throughout globally distributed offices of multinational organizations.

• No particular degree is required to become a telecommunications specialist. Instead, extensive job training programs are the norm. Those with strong math or engineering backgrounds have an advantage over the candidate pool in general; communication skills are an advantage too.
• Training programs usually last two or three months in large companies; on-the-job training in mentor programs isn’t unusual for smaller companies.
• Professional education is also standard in this field, as the technology changes almost as rapidly as the daily newspaper.
• A telecommunication specialists’ skills are valuable in a number of other technology-oriented jobs. Many become service sales representatives for high-tech products companies.
• Others become computer network administrators, capitalizing on their understanding of the interplay between local wiring (connections) and performance (results).