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Computer Programmers vs Database Administrators

Side-by-side · O*NET · BLS · AI-exposure research · Anthropic Economic Index

A factual, source-backed comparison of Computer Programmers and Database Administrators on the dimensions both occupations carry. Every figure is a position within an independent published dataset — not a verdict on which job is better, safer, or more “future-proof.”

Computer Programmers Database Administrators
Median pay · BLS OEWS
$98,670
$104,620
Employment · BLS OEWS
109,870
73,180
AI exposure (percentile) · task overlap, not automation
90th pct
87th pct

At a glance

Dimension Computer Programmers Database Administrators
Median pay $98,670 $104,620
Employment 109,870 73,180
Employment outlook (2024–34) · BLS projection Declining (-6.0%) Declining (-0.7%)
Annual openings · BLS projection 5,500 3,800
Typical education · O*NET Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
AI exposure · published exposure studies High · 90th pct High · 87th pct
Global GenAI gradient · ILO ISCO-08 · via crosswalk — —
Observed AI use · Anthropic Economic Index — —
Mostly remote-capable · Dingel–Neiman — —

Pay and employment are BLS OEWS estimates; outlook and openings are BLS 2024–2034 projections; AI exposure and observed-use figures come from separate research and reflect exposure and usage, not predictions that either job will disappear. Compare like with like.

Skills

Shared: Computers and Electronics, Programming, Written Comprehension, Oral Comprehension, Near Vision, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Problem Sensitivity, Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Information Ordering, Mathematics, Oral Expression, Engineering and Technology, English Language, Reading Comprehension, Systems Analysis, Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management, Writing, Judgment and Decision Making, Written Expression, Speech Recognition, Speaking, Mathematics, Active Learning, Operations Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Mathematical Reasoning, Speech Clarity, Monitoring, Coordination, Fluency of Ideas.

Specific to Computer Programmers

  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Time Management
  • Number Facility
  • Selective Attention
  • Originality

Specific to Database Administrators

  • Telecommunications
  • Category Flexibility
  • Flexibility of Closure
  • Education and Training
  • Learning Strategies
  • Instructing

Knowledge, skills & abilities O*NET rates as important for each occupation. “Shared” are common to both; the columns list what is distinctive to each (top by the order O*NET surfaces).

Tools & technology

Shared: Object or component oriented development software , Web platform development software , Enterprise application integration software , File versioning software , Operating system software , Development environment software , Data base user interface and query software , Data base management system software , Cloud-based management software , Expert system software , Content workflow software .

Specific to Computer Programmers

Specific to Database Administrators

Full profiles

This page is a summary. See the complete source-backed profile for Computer Programmers or Database Administrators — tasks, the full skill graph, tools, work context, preparation, wages by percentile, industries, AI exposure and the AI work map.

More comparisons

Related occupations you can place side by side on the same sourced scale.

Sources for this page

Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

Cite this page
Plain

Singulariki. "Computer Programmers vs Database Administrators." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/compare/computer-programmers-vs-database-administrators

APA

Singulariki. (2026). Computer Programmers vs Database Administrators. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/compare/computer-programmers-vs-database-administrators

BibTeX 
@misc{singulariki-computer-programmers-vs-database-administrators,
  title  = {Computer Programmers vs Database Administrators},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/compare/computer-programmers-vs-database-administrators}
}

Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.