BLS SOC 15-1242 · Technology
Database Administrator Salary
Database administrators manage and maintain database systems, ensuring data integrity, performance, and availability. They handle backups, security, and optimization of database environments.
Data: BLS OEWS · 2026
National Median
$89,167
annual
25th Percentile
$68,659
annual
75th Percentile
$114,134
annual
90th Percentile
$142,667
annual
National Salary Distribution
P25: $68,659Median: $89,167P75: $114,134P90: $142,667
1
Top Paying Cities for Database Administrator
Ranked by median annual salary
| # | City | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $122,000 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $119,000 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $118,000 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $108,000 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $106,000 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $105,000 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $102,000 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $98,000 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $98,000 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $95,000 |
2
Best After Cost of Living
Salary adjusted for cost of living (US avg = $100k)
| # | City | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus, OH | $85,714 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | $85,556 |
| 3 | Detroit, MI | $85,393 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | $84,466 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $84,444 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $84,112 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $84,112 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $82,524 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $82,143 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $80,556 |
3
Database Administrator Salary — All Cities
All 30 metro areas, sorted by median salary
| City | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $93,940 | $122,000 | $156,160 | $195,200 | 41,600 |
| Seattle, WA | $91,630 | $119,000 | $152,320 | $190,400 | 46,400 |
| New York, NY | $90,860 | $118,000 | $151,040 | $188,800 | 54,400 |
| Boston, MA | $83,160 | $108,000 | $138,240 | $172,800 | 33,600 |
| Washington, DC | $81,620 | $106,000 | $135,680 | $169,600 | 36,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $80,850 | $105,000 | $134,400 | $168,000 | 38,400 |
| San Diego, CA | $78,540 | $102,000 | $130,560 | $163,200 | 19,200 |
| Austin, TX | $75,460 | $98,000 | $125,440 | $156,800 | 30,400 |
| Portland, OR | $75,460 | $98,000 | $125,440 | $156,800 | 16,000 |
| Denver, CO | $73,150 | $95,000 | $121,600 | $152,000 | 22,400 |
| Dallas, TX | $70,840 | $92,000 | $117,760 | $147,200 | 28,000 |
| Chicago, IL | $69,300 | $90,000 | $115,200 | $144,000 | 28,000 |
| Houston, TX | $69,300 | $90,000 | $115,200 | $144,000 | 22,400 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $67,760 | $88,000 | $112,640 | $140,800 | 17,600 |
| Atlanta, GA | $66,990 | $87,000 | $111,360 | $139,200 | 24,000 |
| Raleigh, NC | $66,990 | $87,000 | $111,360 | $139,200 | 17,600 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $65,450 | $85,000 | $108,800 | $136,000 | 20,000 |
| Miami, FL | $64,680 | $84,000 | $107,520 | $134,400 | 17,600 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $64,680 | $84,000 | $107,520 | $134,400 | 14,400 |
| Nashville, TN | $63,910 | $83,000 | $106,240 | $132,800 | 14,400 |
| Charlotte, NC | $61,600 | $80,000 | $102,400 | $128,000 | 16,000 |
| Richmond, VA | $61,600 | $80,000 | $102,400 | $128,000 | 11,200 |
| Columbus, OH | $60,060 | $78,000 | $99,840 | $124,800 | 12,800 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $59,290 | $77,000 | $98,560 | $123,200 | 11,200 |
| Detroit, MI | $58,520 | $76,000 | $97,280 | $121,600 | 12,000 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $58,520 | $76,000 | $97,280 | $121,600 | 12,000 |
| Louisville, KY | $53,900 | $70,000 | $89,600 | $112,000 | 8,000 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $53,130 | $69,000 | $88,320 | $110,400 | 7,200 |
| Memphis, TN | $50,820 | $66,000 | $84,480 | $105,600 | 6,400 |
| El Paso, TX | $47,740 | $62,000 | $79,360 | $99,200 | 4,800 |
Top Skills for Database Administrator
SQLPostgreSQLDatabase OptimizationBackup & RecoveryData Modeling