Job Description for a Database Engineer

The database administrator is responsible for overseeing operations of existing database management systems, troubleshooting errors and creating a process plan for all members of the database development team. Database administrator job requirements may vary slightly by employer, but most administrators are responsible for working as part of a project team and working with different departments within an organization to develop an efficient database system.

Education Requirements

Most employers interesting in filling the position of the database administrator require the candidate to have at least a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field, but entry-level database administrators may be able to secure a position with a two-year degree and relevant work experience. Most database administrators hold at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, management information systems (MIS), or information science.

According to Exforsys.com, database administrators may also need to demonstrate expertise in the following systems: Windows NT, TMS, Oracle 8 Enterprise Server, PL/SQL, UNIX, DB2 and Informix.

Primary Job Duties

CareerPlanner.com reports that some of the primary job duties of the database administrator include: overseeing the installation and testing of new products and software in the database, providing access levels to different users in each area of the database, troubleshooting errors and creating fixes, modifying existing databases as directed by management, developing standards and guidelines to protect the database from security hacks, implementing new products and ensuring all items are integrated successfully, and monitoring database performance.

Secondary Job Duties

Secondary job duties of the database administrator may include creating a data dictionary for the company, evaluating industry trends in database systems, reviewing protocol and procedures in a database system management manual, and training members of the web development or database development team.

Salary Range

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Robert Half International reports the following annual salary ranges for database managers, database administrators and database developers as of 2007: Database manager $84,750- $116,000, database developer $73,500-$103,000, database administrator $70,250-$102,000.

Career Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of 2009, database administrators and computer scientists will continue to enjoy excellent job prospects through 2016 as technology becomes more sophisticated and demand for skilled employees increases. Database engineers and other computer professionals with advanced degrees and specialized skills may enjoy more attractive employment opportunities.

References

• CareerPlanner.com: Job Duties Database Administrator
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Computer Scientists and Database Administrators
• Exforsys.com: Database Administrator Jobs

Resources

• How to Get Started in a Database Administration Career

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