Database administrator

As a database administrator, you will be responsible for building and maintaining a database or databases.

Also known as:

Computer database administrator
Database manager

Work activities

Databases are computer applications where huge amounts of data is stored and organised. What form this data takes depends on the area you work in. Databases are used in almost every walk of life, as organisations begin to realise the importance of the data that they gather. You could be working in:

Employment agencies.
Financial systems.
Government organisations.
Insurance.
Law firms.
Marketing.
NHS.
Retail companies.

You could be performing many different duties, including:

Designing and carefully planning a new database.
Identifying exactly what role a database is expected to perform, and for whom.
Monitoring the database or databases to check that they are operating correctly.
Making sure the data stored is properly backed-up. This means storing a copy of the data in a separate location, to avoid it being lost if something happens to the database.
Producing high quality documentation for other database users.
Collecting routine database performance statistics.
Enrolling new database users.
Using a database querying tool, such as SQL (Structured Query Language), to analyse the data within the database.
Using database management system to collect and analyse data from the database.

You could be working as part of a project team, with systems analysts, software developers and programmers.

Personal qualities and skills

As a database administrator, you’ll need:

Good technical knowledge of databases and query languages.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, to explain to users how the database works and to keep clear records of changes you have made.
Analytical skills.
A logical approach to problem solving.
To pay attention to detail.
Planning and forecasting skills.
Knowledge of data protection issues and access rights.
To be willing to keep up to date with any changes in data protection laws and database technologies.
Teamwork skills.

Pay and opportunities

As a database administrator, your salary will often depend on your experience and ability. Database administrators tend to start on around £24,000 per year, rising to £45,000 with experience.

Salaries could include performance-related pay, profit share or company bonuses.

Database administrators usually work 35 hours from Monday to Friday but might work some late evenings when deadlines require.

Employers are in every sector of industry and commerce, including banks, building societies, insurance companies and others in the finance sector, and in public service (for example, local and central government departments). Opportunities occur in towns and cities throughout the UK. There is a shortage of candidates with IT skills and qualifications in the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on specialist IT job boards and employers’ websites, in business and computing magazines and professional journals, in local/national newspapers, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

Some employers require you to have a degree before you become a database administrator. Degrees in relevant subjects are available at many universities. In order to get onto a degree course, you will usually need at least two A-levels.

You may be able to get into this career through a level 6 or 7 degree apprenticeship in digital and technology solutions.

Qualifications

To get onto a degree apprenticeship, you’ll typically need two relevant A-levels plus GCSEs in English and maths.

For entry to a degree course in information systems or computer science, the usual requirement is:

Two to three A-levels.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in two to three other subjects.
English and maths at GCSE.

Alternatives to A-levels include:

Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualifications.
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Many entrants have skills in, for example, systems design or programming.

A range of manufacturer-accredited short training courses are available on an intensive basis, often flexible and part-time, including evenings and weekends.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course, for example, Access to IT/Computing, could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

Distance learning opportunities include degree and postgraduate courses in computing subjects. Distance learning in design and implementing databases is available from IT training providers.

Related careers

Data analyst
Data manager
Information scientist
Software developer