Career Track: Database Administrator
Database Administrator Roles and Responsibilities:
A Database Admininstrator, Database Analyst or Database
Developer is the person responsible for managing the information
within an organization. As most companies continue to experience
inevitable growth of their databases, these positions are
probably the most solid within the IT industry. In most cases,
it is not an area that is targeted for layoffs or downsizing. On
the downside, however, most database departments are often
understaffed, requiring adminstrators to perform a multitude of
tasks.
Depending on the company and the department, this role can
either be highly specialized or incredibly diverse. The primary
role of the Database Administrator is to adminster, develop,
maintain and implement the policies and procedures necessary to
ensure the security and integrity of the corporate database. Sub
roles within the Database Administrator classification may
include security, architecture, warehousing and/or business
analysis. Other primary roles will include:
* Implementation of data models
* Database design
* Database accessibility
* Performance issues
* Capacity issues
* Data replication
* Table Maintainence
Database Administrators are often on-call and required to work
as needed. This position carries an enormous amount of
responsibility.
Potential opportunities for advancement :
Typically, Database Administrators either move into management
or more specialized roles such as data warehousing, security or
analysis.
Educational Requirements:
Normally, Database Administrator positions require a college
degree, 1-3 years of technical experience and 1-3 months of
formal training. Potential candidates should have excellent
mathematical skills, and will be required to work independently.
Database Administrators will be required to work within the
framework of the organization, making teamwork a must.
Candidates should also have the ability to change directions,
priorities and focus quickly without losing productivity. Most
positions require expertise in one or several of the following
systems :
* Windows NT
* Oracle 8 Enterprise Server
* TMS
* PL/SQL
* UNIX
* Informix
* DB2
It is an excellent idea to focus on one speciality area.
Security, for example, is a very hot industry today. A
specialization will not only increase your value but will also
enhance your marketability.
A Bachelor's degree in computer science or M.I.S. is preferable
to a general degree and will add weight to your resume, salary
negotiations and advancement potential. It is also extremely
important to stay current regarding the IT industry and
potential changes. A strong background in business is a definite
plus as well as any previous experience in data modeling,
fulfillment, mail order or distribution.
Salary Potential : (As reported by the U.S. Dept. of
Labor)
Average salaries (nationwide): Entry (less than 1 year of
experience): Administrator $49,000 Analyst $40,967
Junior (1-2 years of experience): Administrator $52,289
Analyst $49,710
Emerging (3-5 years of experience): Administrator $66,067
Analyst $56,472
Experienced (6-9 years of experience): Administrator $76,716
Analyst $66,652
Advanced (10+ years of experience): Administrator $91,098
Analyst $80,648
Industry Certifications :
It is highly recommended that any potential Database
Administrators take the time to obtain certifications. Microsoft
and Oracle seem to be the favored ones here. Oracle DBA's are
currently earning some of the highest six-figure salaries on the
West Coast. An added plus is to diversify training and
certifications within design, programming and data warehousing.
The most recommended certifications include:
Master CIW Enterprise Developer
MCDBA
Oracle8i DBA OCP
Oracle9i DBA OCA
Oracle9i DBA OCP
Oracle9i OCM
Security+