Database Administrator Career Assessment
Protecting and managing data — ND in-demand occupation
Welcome
Database administrators (DBAs) keep an organization's data safe, organized, and available.
You will explore what this detail-focused tech job is really like and whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Database Administrator?
A DBA sets up and maintains databases, controls who can access data, runs backups, fixes slow queries, and plans for growth. Many databases now run in the cloud.
The Reality: If data is lost or stolen, it is a disaster. You carry a lot of responsibility, and some work happens after hours during upgrades.
Your Responsibilities:
- Install and update databases
- Control user access
- Run and test backups
- Tune slow queries
- Protect data security
- Move databases to the cloud
- Monitor performance
- Recover data when something fails
You are the guardian of the data.
A Day in the Life
8:00 AM — Check that last night's backups worked.
9:00 AM — A report is running slow. Tune the query.
11:00 AM — Set up access for a new team.
12:00 PM — Lunch.
1:00 PM — Plan a cloud database move.
3:00 PM — Review security logs.
10:00 PM — After-hours upgrade while no one is using the system.
Careful, behind-the-scenes data work.
Training in North Dakota
Usually a bachelor's degree. Computer science or information systems degrees are common. Vendor certifications help.
Training Pathways:
- Bachelor's degree (4 years): CS, CIS, or data programs.
- IT experience: Many start as analysts or sysadmins.
- Vendor certifications: Microsoft, Oracle, or cloud.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- University of North Dakota (Grand Forks or online) — B.S. Computer Science; BBA Information Systems
- North Dakota State University (Fargo) — B.S. Computer Science (tracks incl. Data Science, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity); Information Technology major
- Minot State University (Minot or online) — B.S. Computer Information Systems; B.S. Computer Science
- Valley City State University (Valley City or online) — B.S. Computer Information Systems; Software Engineering
- Dickinson State University (Dickinson, Bismarck, or online) — B.S. Computer Science; B.S. Computer Technology Management
- University of Mary (Bismarck) — B.S. Computer Information Systems; B.S. Computer Science
Before You Start: Strong logic and attention to detail. SQL skills are key.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, exam fees, or a laptop. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Many IT certifications are also sold as low-cost online courses you can do at home.
Certification & Licensing
No license. Vendor certifications help. Employers may require certification in the database products they use.
Certifications Employers Look For:
- Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate
- Oracle Database certifications
- AWS database/data certifications
The Exams: Computer-based exams.
Cost: Varies by vendor and country; check the vendor site.
Keeping It Current: Many renew yearly or every few years.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Database Administrator Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $27.56–$30.41/hour ($57,320–$63,260/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $37.85/hour ($78,730/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $46.21–$58.83/hour ($96,120–$122,360/year)
What that means: Good pay, though ND pay is below the national median for this job.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 90 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 100 (about 4% growth). Expect very few job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 1% fewer jobs.
Outlook: A very small field in ND with very few openings each year. Cloud and data engineering skills open more doors.
Who Hires in ND: State government (NDIT in Bismarck), Microsoft's Fargo campus, banks and insurance companies, health systems, energy companies, universities, and IT service companies. Many remote jobs exist.
Work Setting: Offices or remote. Some after-hours work.
Physical Demands: Light. Desk work.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 15-1242); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Database Architect — Design data systems.
Path 2: Data Engineer — Build data pipelines.
Path 3: Cloud Database Specialist — Manage cloud data.
Path 4: Data Security Specialist — Protect data.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Good pay
- Detail-focused work
- Remote options
- Important responsibility
What's Hard:
- Very few ND openings
- After-hours work
- High responsibility
- Must keep up with cloud changes
Be Honest: Do you enjoy careful, detailed work? Are you OK with after-hours upgrades? Are you open to remote work since ND jobs are few?