What is a Database Administrator?
By Eric Hammer
Quick Jeopardy style question - what was Chandler Bing's job?
If you answered, what is a database administrator, then you wouldn't
be too far off the mark (officially, his job was "statistical
analysis and data reconfiguration," but that's basically
a fancy way of saying that he was a database administrator).
Oh, and if you have no idea who Chandler Bing is, then you probably
missed one of the best TV shows of the 1990s (Friends).
Anyway, getting back to the question of what is a database
administrator, he (or she) is basically someone who makes sure
that all the information flowing into a company is collated correctly
and is made available to anyone who needs it whenever it needs
to be made available.
You'll need to know how to work with computers and to set
up complex databases and possibly also content management systems
to make sure that your company can easily access whatever material
may be needed at any given time.
How Much Can You Make?
According to the bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary
for a database administrator tend to be anywhere from $72,900
to as much as $81,050. Keep in mind however that those numbers
were generated in 2008 so the average salaries should be somewhat
higher today, accounting for inflation.
Ways to Make More | Related Opportunities
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In general, you need to think logically and be able to track
down problems in lines of code. Basically, if you really want
to know the answer to the question, what is a database administrator,
he or she is basically a kind of specialized computer programmer.
You could also potentially work as a computer programmer as
well or even as a content management programmer (all highly related
fields) and earn a similar salary. Some database managers also
tend to take jobs setting up databases rather than maintaining
them, leaving the maintenance to less experienced technicians.
Qualifications / Requirements
You'll need a college degree in computer science or some related
field in order to get a job as a database manager. It often helps
as well to get a masters degree, though a doctorate is not necessary.
Having a very analytical mind is also extremely important if
you want to get work in this field.
First Steps
Start by going to college and earning your degree in computer
science or information technology. Ask at your school for specialized
classes which focus on database administration as well so that
you can learn the right programming languages and how to use
specific types of software that you'll need in order to do this
job effectively.
Resources
WiseGeek: What is a Database Administrator?
- A shorter, easier to understand article which offers you the
basic information need to answer the question.
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