Fresh Profile: Database Administration Jobs

Published on 2008-04-23

Database administrators are the gatekeepers of a company's electronic information. Information-sensitive businesses like manufacturers, insurance companies, investment houses and other financial institutions rely on access to crucial information in order to make millions of sound business decisions every day. As an example of what database administrators can do, consider their role in national and global banks, which often house millions of accounts consisting of billions of transaction histories. Using powerful software, a cadre of well-trained database managers can accurately track millions of deposits, withdrawals, and a host of other transactions every single hour. It is not an exaggeration to say that computer jobs in the database administration community form the backbone of any information management protocol. By keeping track of large amounts of information, organizing it efficiently and correctly to eliminate redundancy, and securing and confirming regulatory compliance, database managers provide their companies with quick and reliable access to vital information.

Job opportunities in the database administration field can be found within a multitude of specializations. General areas of specialization include mainframe administration, application programming, data management, and information security and compliance. Data administrators work closely with both system administrators, who tend to concentrate on script-based programming, which allows for more general applications; and network administrators, who concentrate on resolving both hardware and software issues.

As with other high-paying IT careers, applicants interested in becoming database administrators are typically required to have a 4-year degree in Computer Science or Management Information Systems. Additional certifications in specific database software are also important for employers. IBM, Oracle, Linux, and Microsoft all offer database certification programs that help candidates further their chances of finding bigger and better information technology jobs within their industry. Competition and high demand among employers with vast amounts of sensitive information make database administration a popular field.

Although education and certifications are important in a database administrator's career, ideal candidates must be able to thrive in demanding methodological and technical environments. Database administrators are sometimes challenged by long hours of complicated coding, software compatibility concerns, and difficult questions regarding technical procedural issues.

Computer science jobs like data administration are expected to grow dramatically as database companies continue to release improvements in their software, with more versatile features facilitating advanced data management. This allows top businesses to continue to streamline IT infrastructure in order to reduce costs while meeting storage requirements and maintaining adequate cooling. The median base salary for database administrators is around $80 to $85K per year and can vary depending on education, certification, company size and location.

While the information services field can be highly competitive, database administration is a solid choice that remains in high demand with potential employers. The ability to handle large amounts of information quickly and accurately using powerful computer programs will make you a top-tier candidate for whom employers will compete. Count on Fresho.com to be the fast, easy and efficient job search site that will help you land the high-paying data administration position you've been looking for.