Principal Database Administrator Salary in the United States

How much does a Principal Database Administrator make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Database Administrator in the United States is $138,263 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $66.

However, a Principal Database Administrator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $154,895
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $127,046 to $146,969
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $116,834
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $127,046 10% $116,834 90% $154,895 75% $146,969 $138,263 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Principal Database Administrator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $146,969 $12,247 $2,826 $71
Average $138,263 $11,522 $2,659 $66
25th Percentile $127,046 $10,587 $2,443 $61
Check out Principal Database Administrator Job Openings in the United States
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BAE Systems - Fairborn, OH

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SQL Database Administrator

Kalmbach Feeds Inc - Upper Sandusky, OH

SQL Server Database Administrator

S R INTERNATIONAL INC - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Principal Database Administrator Salaries

A Principal Database Administrator'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Principal Database Administrator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Database Administrator'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): $72,544
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $105,005
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $117,622
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $137,623
  • Expert (over 8 years): $154,317
Levels Salary
Database ... Level Principal Database Administrator$72,544
Database ... Level Principal Database Administrator$105,005
Database ... Level Principal Database Administrator$117,622
Principal... Level Principal Database Administrator$137,623
Database ... Level Principal Database Administrator$154,317
$72,544 0 yr
$105,005 < 2 yrs
$117,622 2-4 yrs
$137,623 5-8 yrs
$154,317 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Principal Database Administrators

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: $174,391
  • San Francisco: $172,677
  • Oakland: $168,847

What Skills Can Increase a Principal Database Administrator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 3.75% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • AWS (Mentioned in 2.99% 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.
  • Database Design (Mentioned in 1.58% Job Postings): Overlap to row 560
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 3.75%
AWS 2.99%
Database Design 1.58%
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 Principal Database Administrator's salary.
  • Team Operations: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • DB2: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Database Administration: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Team Operations
 $165,916
20%
DB2
 $159,002
15%
Database Administration
 $154,855
12%
Installation
 $153,472
11%
Database Design
 $152,089
10%
Database Management System
 $152,089
10%
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Principal Database Administrator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Database Administrator'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on April 01, 2026
$127,046
Average $138,263/year
$146,969
$10,587
Average $11,522/month
$12,247
$2,443
Average $2,659/week
$2,826
$61
Average $66/hour
$71
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $146,969 $12,247 $2,826 $71
Average $138,263 $11,522 $2,659 $66
25th Percentile $127,046 $10,587 $2,443 $61

Salaries of jobs related to Principal Database Administrator

Salary Trends for Principal Database Administrator

Salaries for a Principal Database Administrator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $127,924 in 2023 to around $126,138 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Principal Database Administrator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Principal Database Administrator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$127,924
2024
$127,904
2025
$126,138
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $127,924
2024 $127,904
2025 $126,138
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Principal Database Administrator

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

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