Database Administrator salary
From 11,307 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 15-1242: Database Administrators
- Also filed as: DBA
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 49% of Database Administrator filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: EY. 2,718 filings (24% of the total), median $135,558.
- Pay depends on the city. Among the 10 metro areas with the most filings, the median ranges from $99,840 in Washington, DC to $132,121 in San Francisco, CA.
- Median up 22% since FY2020. From $91,581 in FY2020 to $112,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Database Administrator H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 11,307 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Database Administrator jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 15-1242, Database Administrators). The median base salary is $111,472, 9% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $90,000 and $138,965. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 49% of filings. New York, NY has the most filings (1,482), and EY is the employer that files the most (2,718).
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Database Administrator
EY2,718 filings · 24%$135,558
Amazon389 filings · 3%$131,000
Tata Consultancy Services201 filings · 2%$89,336
Cognizant152 filings · 1%$105,093
ServiceNow151 filings · 1%$103,501
Accenture98 filings · 1%$117,400
Infosys95 filings · 1%$88,608
Deloitte90 filings · 1%$125,050
NTT DATA90 filings · 1%$125,351
Compunnel Software Group78 filings · 1%$101,500
Employers with the most Database Administrator filings. Bar: share of all Database Administrator filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 14% of filings
Mid-level · 49% of filings
Senior · 20% of filings
Expert · 17% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $75,962 | 1,496 |
| Level II · Qualified | $100,000 | 5,482 |
| Level III · Experienced | $126,000 | 2,229 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $143,836 | 1,868 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Database Administrator pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 82 metro areas
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Database Administrator does
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.
Typical tasks
- Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes.
- Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification or disclosure.
- Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance.
- Specify users and user access levels for each segment of database.
- Test changes to database applications or systems.
- Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications.
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET occupation: Database Administrators (15-1242.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Database Administrators), the median annual wage was $104,620 in May 2025, with 69,990 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $111,472, 7% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $79,000 | $60,230 |
| 25th percentile | $90,000 | $79,610 |
| Median | $111,472 | $104,620 |
| 75th percentile | $138,965 | $135,460 |
| 90th percentile | $166,925 | $163,320 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $79,000 |
| 25th | $90,000 |
| 50th (median) | $111,472 |
| 75th | $138,965 |
| 90th | $166,925 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $91,581 | $81,099 | $110,236 | 6,390 |
| FY2021 | $89,784 | $79,768 | $113,048 | 6,925 |
| FY2022 | $97,900 | $83,480 | $121,763 | 5,644 |
| FY2023 | $98,450 | $84,490 | $123,301 | 4,960 |
| FY2024 | $106,106 | $90,000 | $134,500 | 6,062 |
| FY2025 | $111,384 | $89,586 | $139,250 | 6,935 |
| FY2026 | $112,000 | $93,870 | $138,000 | 4,372 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Database Administrator make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Database Administrator jobs is $111,472 (11,307 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $90,000 and $138,965.
What does an entry-level Database Administrator earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $75,962. Level I accounts for 14% of Database Administrator filings.
Which city pays H-1B Database Administrators the most?
Among metro areas with at least 100 filings, San Francisco, CA has the highest median base salary for Database Administrator jobs: $132,121 (390 filings).
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Database Administrators?
EY (2,718), Amazon (389) and Tata Consultancy Services (201) filed the most Database Administrator LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Database Administrators earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($111,472) is 7% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($104,620, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.