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Director of Database Administration Salary in the United States

How much does a Director of Database Administration make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director of Database Administration in the United States is $155,082 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $75.

However, a Director of Database Administration's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $178,665
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $142,362 to $167,426
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $130,781
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Director of Database Administration Salaries

A Director of Database Administration's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Director of Database Administration Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Director of Database Administration's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $72,426
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $104,900
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $117,460
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $137,465
  • Expert (over 8 years): $154,175
Levels Salary
Database ... Level Director of Database Administration$72,426
Database ... Level Director of Database Administration$104,900
Database ... Level Director of Database Administration$117,460
Database ... Level Director of Database Administration$137,465
Director ... Level Director of Database Administration$154,175
View as Graph

How Do Director of Database Administration Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Director of Database Administrations. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $171,707.
  • California: $171,055.
  • Massachusetts: $168,776.

Top Paying Cities for Director of Database Administrations

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $195,605
  • San Francisco: $193,463
  • Oakland: $189,386

What Skills Can Increase a Director of Database Administration's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 6.31% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • SQL Server (Mentioned in 1.92% Job Postings): Applying SQL server to store and retrieves information or data.
  • AWS (Mentioned in 1.59% Job Postings): Amazon Web Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 6.31%
SQL Server 1.92%
AWS 1.59%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Director of Database Administration's salary.

  • Business Transformation: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Value Realization: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Storytelling: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Business Transformation $169,039
9%
Value Realization $167,489
8%
Storytelling $164,387
6%
Get Latest Data

Director of Database Administration Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Director of Database Administration roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 95% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Retail & Wholesale and MFG Nondurable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Director of Database Administration positions in Software & Networking or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Director of Database Administration as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Director of Database Administration

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$232,623$112.050%
MFG Nondurable$217,115$104.040%
Media$201,607$97.030%
Financial Services$193,852$93.025%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$186,098$89.020%

How Education impacts a Director of Database Administration's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Director of Database Administrations enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Director of Database Administration with a Bachelor's Degree is between $149,075 and $157,234).

Director of Database Administration Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Director of Database Administration
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 8.1%
Associates 9.8%
Bachelors 49.2%
Masters 30.5%
Doctorate 2.0%
View as Graph

Director of Database Administration Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director of Database Administration's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$142,362
Average $155,082/year
$167,426
$11,864
Average $12,924/month
$13,952
$2,738
Average $2,982/week
$3,220
$68
Average $75/hour
$80
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $167,426 $13,952 $3,220 $80
Average $155,082 $12,924 $2,982 $75
25th Percentile $142,362 $11,864 $2,738 $68

Most common benefits for Director of Database Administration

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Director of Database Administration

Here are companies hiring for Director of Database Administration and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Director of Database Administration

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Director of Database Administration?

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Director of Database Administration roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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