Career Track : Database Administrator Oracle

Oracle Database Administrator Roles and Responsibilities: Due to the popularity of Oracle8i, DBA's with experience running an Oracle Database are in high demand and are commanding higher salaries than traditional DBA's. The only real difference between the two is simply training. A DBA that has at least a year or more of experience with Oracle8i would be primarily in charge of the maintenance and operation of an Oracle database. Other responsibilities may include: * Administration of Solaris Systems * Administration of SQL Server Databases and/or Informix Systems * Facilitation of backup and recovery procedures * Creation and enforcement of user-group role security models * Disaster recovery planning and implementation Most importantly, however, Oracle DBA's will be responsible for the deployment and management of enterprise-class operations on the Internet and company Intranet. Educational Requirements: Educational requirements include those that are expected of an average DBA as well as at least two to three years of practical Oracle experience and a certification as an Oracle Professional. The most requested mastery is Oracle8i while additional knowledge of Java, Visual Basic, C++ and accounting programs will definitely increase your marketability as well. 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: 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. While all certifications appropriate to a regular DBA are expected, the focus here needs to be on Oracle technology. Master CIW Enterprise Developer MCDBA Oracle8i DBA OCP Oracle9i DBA OCA Oracle9i DBA OCP Oracle9i OCM Security+