Database Administrators
SOC 15-1242 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Database Administrators is $101,510, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $104,810, and an estimated 76,140 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2021 and 2023, pay rose +5% while consumer prices rose 12.4% — a real change of -6.7% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will shrink 0.7% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Database Administrators has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $101,510 | $101,510 | 76,140 |
| 2022 | $99,890 | $104,002 | 80,520 |
| 2021 | $96,710 | $108,749 | 85,870 |
Nominal change
+5%
Inflation (CPI)
+12.4%
Real change
-6.7%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-0.7%
About average
Employment 2024
78,000
Projected 2034
77,500
Annual Openings
3,800
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Database Administrators earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $101,510. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | $133,200 | +31.2% | 1,070 |
| Massachusetts | $121,520 | +19.7% | 2,220 |
| District of Columbia | $120,220 | +18.4% | 520 |
| New Jersey | $119,450 | +17.7% | 2,080 |
| Colorado | $116,420 | +14.7% | 1,950 |
| Connecticut | $114,400 | +12.7% | 870 |
| Maryland | $113,810 | +12.1% | 1,790 |
| California | $112,170 | +10.5% | 8,070 |
| Rhode Island | $110,540 | +8.9% | 280 |
| Washington | $109,490 | +7.9% | 2,050 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$54,320
25th Pct
$71,940
Median
$101,510
75th Pct
$133,120
90th Pct
$157,710
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | CA | 16 | $176,000 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | NJ | 14 | $183,847 |
| AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC | WA | 10 | $127,800 |
| TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED | CA | 9 | $105,124 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | TX | 7 | $91,375 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | GA | 6 | $102,169 |
| AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC | TX | 6 | $153,300 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | OH | 6 | $110,000 |
| ServiceNow, Inc. | FL | 6 | $97,892 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | NY | 6 | $111,402 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | IL | 6 | $152,352 |
| COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | NC | 6 | $109,366 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | WA | 5 | $171,992 |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. | OH | 5 | $129,200 |
| Deloitte Consulting LLP | PA | 5 | $117,200 |
| Deloitte Consulting LLP | FL | 4 | $116,900 |
| SEI Investments Company | PA | 4 | $138,100 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | CO | 4 | $183,847 |
| M3BI LLC | AZ | 4 | $115,000 |
| United Wholesale Mortgage, LLC | MI | 4 | $120,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
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