Database Administrators
Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.
69,990 people do this job in the US. $104,620 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 87%
- 13%
- 0%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 15%. Today's estimate: 24%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 18 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identify, evaluate and recommend hardware or software technologies to achieve desired database performance.Done more than yearly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 16% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications.Done daily by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 15% | 4.2 h1.7 h to 1.3 work days | 27%Half by Jan 2027 | |
| Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 9% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | 46%Half by Oct 2026 | |
| Approve, schedule, plan, and supervise the installation and testing of new products and improvements to computer systems, such as the installation of new databases.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 8% | 1 work day3.3 h to 4.2 work days | Stays with people | |
| Develop data models describing data elements and how they are used, following procedures and using pen, template, or computer software.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 8% | 5 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 14%Half by Jul 2027 | |
| Write and code logical and physical database descriptions and specify identifiers of database to management system, or direct others in coding descriptions.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 8% | 4.2 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | 23%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Test changes to database applications or systems.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 7% | 3.3 h50 min to 1 work day | 28%Half by Feb 2027 | |
| Train users and answer questions.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 1.3 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification or disclosure.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 4% | 4.2 h1.7 h to 2.1 work days | 20%Half by Apr 2027 | |
| Provide technical support to junior staff or clients.Done daily by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 4% | 50 min17 min to 2.5 h | 87%Half by now | |
| Develop standards and guidelines for the use and acquisition of software and to protect vulnerable information.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 3% | 6.7 h2.5 h to 2.5 work days | 9%Half by Jul 2027 | |
| Identify and evaluate industry trends in database systems to serve as a source of information and advice for upper management.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 3% | 5 h1.7 h to 2.1 work days | 15%Half by Jun 2027 |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).