Database Specialists

A fairly wide range of salaries exists for database specialists. Earnings vary with the size, type, and location of the organization as well as a person's experience, education, and job responsibilities. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), median annual earnings for database administrators were $101,510 in May 2023. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $54,320, while the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $157,710. Fifty percent of database specialists earned between $71,940 and $133,120. Mean annual earnings vary by employer. Here are average salaries for database specialists by sector, according to the DOL:

• computer systems design and related services firms: $120,200
• insurance carriers: $113,450
• computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services firms: $109,340
• local government agencies (excluding schools and hospitals): $105,130
• colleges, universities, and professional schools: $89,770

Benefits for database professionals depend on the employer; however, they usually include such items as health insurance, retirement or 401(k) plans, and paid vacation days.