Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised May 28, 2026

Database administrator

A database administrator (DBA) manages computer databases. The role may include capacity planning, installation, configuration, database design, migration, performance monitoring, security, troubleshooting, as well as backup and data recovery.

Last revised
May 28, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
330 w
Citations
13
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Database Administrator
Occupation
Activity sectors
Information Technology
Description
CompetenciesDatabases, RDBMS, SQL, distributed computing, operating systems, storage technologies, networking, maintenance, recovery
Education required
BS or MS in comp sci; associate degree or certificate with work experience

A database administrator (DBA) manages computer databases.1 The role may include capacity planning, installation, configuration, database design, migration, performance monitoring, security, troubleshooting, as well as backup and data recovery.2

Skills

Required skills for database administrators include knowledge of SQL, database queries, database theory, database design, specific databases, such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or MySQL, storage technologies, distributed computing architectures, operating systems, routine maintenance, recovery, and replication/failover.3456

Certification

Training for DBAs with accompanying certifications is widely available, offered by database vendors and third parties. Offerings include:7

  • IBM Certified Advanced Database Administrator – DB2 10.1 for Linux, Unix and Windows8
  • IBM Certified Database Administrator – DB2 10.1 for Linux, Unix, and Windows8
  • Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Professional9
  • Oracle MySQL 5.6 Database Administrator Certified Professional10
  • MCSA SQL Server 201211
  • MCSE Data Platform Solutions Expert12
See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Database Administrators". 11/04/2015. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  2. "What does a DBA do all day?". 11/04/2015. techrepublic.com. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  3. Spenik, Mark; Sledge, Orryn (20 March 2001). "What is a Database Administrator? (DBA)". Developer.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  4. "Oracle DBA job skills". Burleson Consulting.
  5. "Roles and Responsibilities - Oracle FAQ". www.orafaq.com.
  6. "Database Administrator: Job Description and Requirements". 11/4/2015. study.com. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  7. "How Do I Become a Certified Database Administrator?". learn.org. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  8. "IBM Professional Certification Program". ibm.com. IBM. Archived from the original on 29 October 2004. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  9. "Oracle Certification Program". oracle.com. Oracle Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  10. "Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 5.6 Database Administrator". oracle.com. Oracle Corporation. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  11. "MCSA: SQL Server". microsoft.com. Microsoft. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  12. "MCSE: Data Platform". 11/4/2015. microsoft.com. Retrieved 4 November 2015.