Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Database Administrators
Occupation · SOC 15-1242.00
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.
Also called: Database Administration Manager · Database Administrator (DBA) · Database Analyst · Systems Administrator (Systems Admin) · Database Coordinator · Database Engineer · Database Manager · Development and Database Administration Manager · IS Admin (Information Systems Administrator) · Administrator (Admin) · Automatic Data Processing Planner (ADP Planner) · Cyber Database Administrator (Cyber DBA)
Job family: Computer and Mathematical Occupations
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/roles/role-15-1242-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- Declining employment outlook (-0.7% by 2034)
- 3,800 openings/yr
- High AI exposure
- Median pay $104,620/yr
96th-percentile task overlap — yet about 3,800 openings a year (-0.7% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) High | 95th | 1.0 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) High | 87th | 0.3 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.9), with simple added tooling (β 0.9), and including AI-powered software (γ 1.0). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
How AI is actually used in this job
Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.
| Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications. | 34.5% | |
| Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes. | 29.6% | |
| Identify, evaluate and recommend hardware or software technologies to achieve desired database performance. | 4.8% | |
| Train users and answer questions. | 0.4% | |
| Specify users and user access levels for each segment of database. | 0.3% | |
| Identify and evaluate industry trends in database systems to serve as a source of information and advice for upper management. | 0.2% |
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | Declining · -0.7% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 3,800 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 78,000 → 77,500 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Tasks
All 18 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes. Core · importance 4.0
- Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification or disclosure. Core · importance 3.9
- Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance. · importance 3.9
- Specify users and user access levels for each segment of database. Core · importance 3.8
- Test changes to database applications or systems. · importance 3.8
- Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications. Core · importance 3.7
- Train users and answer questions. Core · importance 3.6
- Provide technical support to junior staff or clients. · importance 3.5
- Approve, schedule, plan, and supervise the installation and testing of new products and improvements to computer systems, such as the installation of new databases. Core · importance 3.5
- Develop standards and guidelines for the use and acquisition of software and to protect vulnerable information. Core · importance 3.4
- Write and code logical and physical database descriptions and specify identifiers of database to management system, or direct others in coding descriptions. Core · importance 3.1
- Develop data model describing data elements and how they are used, following procedures and using pen, template, or computer software. Core · importance 3.1
- Select and enter codes to monitor database performance and to create production database. Supplemental · importance 3.1
- Identify, evaluate and recommend hardware or software technologies to achieve desired database performance. · importance 3.0
- Review procedures in database management system manuals to make changes to database. Core · importance 3.0
- Identify and evaluate industry trends in database systems to serve as a source of information and advice for upper management. Core · importance 2.8
- Review workflow charts developed by programmer analyst to understand tasks computer will perform, such as updating records. Core · importance 2.8
- Revise company definition of data as defined in data dictionary. Core · importance 2.7
Work activities
- Develop performance metrics or standards related to information technology.
- Create databases to store electronic data.
- Update computer database information.
- Assess database performance.
- Modify software programs to improve performance.
- Implement security measures for computer or information systems.
- Develop computer or information security policies or procedures.
- Develop detailed project plans.
- Coordinate software or hardware installation.
- Train others in computer interface or software use.
- Develop models of information or communications systems.
- Read documents to gather technical information.
- Analyze market or customer related data.
- Analyze data to identify trends or relationships among variables.
- Develop database parameters or specifications.
- Write computer programming code.
- Evaluate utility of software or hardware technologies.
- Provide recommendations to others about computer hardware.
- Install computer software.
- Provide technical support for software maintenance or use.
- Test computer system operations to ensure proper functioning.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
Abilities
| Deductive Reasoning | 4.0 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.9 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.9 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.9 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.9 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.9 | |
| Near Vision | 3.6 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.5 | |
| Written Expression | 3.4 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.4 | |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.3 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.3 | |
| Fluency of Ideas | 3.1 | |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 3.1 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.1 |
Essential skills
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 | |
| Active Listening | 3.8 | |
| Active Learning | 3.5 | |
| Speaking | 3.4 | |
| Writing | 3.3 | |
| Monitoring | 3.3 | |
| Mathematics | 3.0 | |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Transferable skills
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 | |
| Programming | 3.4 | |
| Operations Analysis | 3.1 | |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 | |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 | |
| Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Showing the top 40 of 125.
Tools & technology
Showing the top 40 of 288.
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 4 — Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Typical entry-level education
- Bachelor's degree · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Preparation level
- SVP (7.0 to < 8.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| Bachelor's Degree | 89.0% | |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.9% | |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 3.5% | |
| Some College Courses | 2.2% | |
| Master's Degree | 1.3% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.1% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Interest areas
| Information Technology | 6.7 | |
| Management/Administration | 3.6 | |
| Mathematics/Statistics | 3.2 | |
| Office Work | 2.5 | |
| Accounting | 1.9 | |
| Engineering | 1.9 |
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Conventional | 6.6 | |
| Investigative | 4.8 | |
| Enterprising | 2.9 | |
| Realistic | 2.8 | |
| Social | 2.3 |
Work styles
| Dependability | 5.0 | |
| Attention to Detail | 4.0 | |
| Integrity | 3.0 | |
| Cautiousness | 2.5 | |
| Intellectual Curiosity | 2.2 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $56,820 |
| 25th percentile | $76,100 |
| Median (50th) | $104,620 |
| 75th percentile | $132,850 |
| 90th percentile | $160,890 |
| People employed | 73,180 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 18,360 | $109,200 |
| Finance and Insurance · Sector | 8,300 | $118,180 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 7,150 | $83,780 |
| Information · Sector | 6,760 | $115,940 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 5,710 | $117,740 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 4,290 | $84,150 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 4,110 | $109,930 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 3,080 | $100,140 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 2,650 | $76,990 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 2,320 | $106,350 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 1,770 | $125,270 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 1,350 | $100,020 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers · National industry | 5.35× | 1,140 |
| Information · Sector | 4.9× | 6,760 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 4.28× | 5,710 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities · National industry | 3.81× | 110 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 3.59× | 18,360 |
| Finance and Insurance · Sector | 2.81× | 8,300 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 2.46× | 1,350 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages · National industry | 1.7× | 800 |
Related occupations
Part of the Digital Technology career cluster.
- Database Architects · 15-1243.00 Compare →
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- Software Developers · 15-1252.00 Compare →
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects · 15-1299.08 Compare →
- Data Warehousing Specialists · 15-1243.01 Compare →
- Information Security Engineers · 15-1299.05 Compare →
- Web Administrators · 15-1299.01 Compare →
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- Blockchain Engineers · 15-1299.07 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Database Administrators — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- Bachelor's degree · typical entry level
- Job zone 4 — Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services · field of study
Zoom out
See where this work sits in the bigger picture.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Database Administrators show 96th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 3,800 annual U.S. openings
- Database Administrators rank in the 96th percentile (High band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 3,800 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be declining (-0.7%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $104,620, across about 73,180 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Database Administrators show 96th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 3,800 annual U.S. openings • Database Administrators rank in the 96th percentile (High band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 3,800 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be declining (-0.7%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $104,620, across about 73,180 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Database Administrators". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1242-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
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.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "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/roles/role-15-1242-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Database Administrators. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1242-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-15-1242-00,
title = {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/roles/role-15-1242-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.