Database Administrator Job Description

Roles and Responsibilities of a Database Administrator

Roles of a Database Administrator

1. Database Back-Up: A DBA is responsible for backing up all the data in the database of that organization constantly, which is necessary to restore operations during disaster and downtime.
2. Database accessibility: A database administrator is responsible for periodically guaranteeing database accessibility to users.
3. Database restoration: When necessary, a database administrator is responsible for recovering a file from a backup state.
4. Design of a database: A database administrator is responsible for creating a database that satisfies the needs of users. As a result, knowledge of database architecture is essential for an administrator.
5. Data transfer: A database administrator is in charge of migrating a database set, for example, from a physical base to a cloud base or from an existing application to a new application.
6. Database Upgradation: When a new update for database software is available, a database administrator is in-charge to upgrade database software files to shield the software from security flaws.
7. Database patch: The database administrator is in charge of making sure the database system operates flawlessly during new database software upgrades and working to fill in any gaps.
8. Database safety: Datasets are assets, and protecting the data and ensuring proper security in an organization's database is a fundamental responsibility of database administrators.

Responsibilities of a Database Administrator

1. Software Installation and Maintenance: A DBA is frequently involved in the initial installation and configuration of a new Oracle, SQL Server, or another database.
2. Data Integrity Management: A database administrator (DBA) is in charge of ensuring the integrity of data stored in a database.
3. Extraction, transformation, and loading of data: A database administrator (DBA) is in charge of a database's performance. This includes making data available when needed and safeguarding it against unauthorized access. 
4. Monitoring Performance: A Database Administrator analyzes database performance to ensure that it runs smoothly and efficiently.
5. Data Handling: A database administrator is in charge of planning, implementing, and managing the systems that hold data for a company. 

Average Salary and Compensation

• Graduate database administrators mostly earn between £22,000 and £25,000 per year as their starting salary.
• With some experience, DBAs can make between £35,000 and £45,000 in a junior role.
• If DBAs have a lot of experience, then they can make over £60,000 working in a senior role.
• Additionally, depending on skills, DBAs can work as a contractor and earn between £300 and £500 per day.

The range of incomes varies by region and sector. The financial services, banking, investing, and insurance industries, as well as London and the South East, tend to have higher rates.

What to Expect?

• Working conditions are typically informal, and remote workers may be able to do their tasks from their homes or other locations. The practice of working from home is becoming more popular.
• You'll discover that the task can be challenging since organizations rely on efficient databases, and there can be a lot of pressure to make sure they run properly, especially if they are viewed online.
• On rare occasions, travel and overnight absence from home may be needed.
• Opportunities to work overseas.
• At the moment, women are underrepresented in the IT industry.

Qualification

• Graduation in Computer Science or Computer Engineering
• A minimum of two years of professional experience
• Advanced understanding of database theory and structure
• knowledge of MSSQL and MySQL
• Basic comprehension of database backup and disaster recovery techniques
• knowledge of reporting tools
• Certification in PostgreSQL has desired
• The capacity to function autonomously with little guidance or help

Required Skills

• A database administrator must have the following abilities.
• Excellent communication abilities
• Excellent problem-solving abilities
• Excellent knowledge of query language(s) for database operations
• Knowledge of Windows and Linux command operations are required.
• Adequate database design knowledge
• Knowledge of database management systems is required.
• Excellent knowledge of database tools

Work Experience 

The majority of database administrator positions demand some level of IT sector experience.  Sandwich degrees that incorporate an internship provide priceless practical experience and may result in employment after graduation. Gaining programming skills and becoming proficient in different operating systems and database technologies are wise moves. The majority of jobs require familiarity with DBMS, Unix, and structured query language (SQL).

Outlook for DBAs

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for database administrators are predicted to expand by 10% between 2019 and 2029, above the 4% average growth for all occupations.  The growth of cloud computing as a storage option for businesses has also contributed to a rise in demand for database expertise.

• Work Environment -  Some DBAs handle databases for retail organizations that utilize them to store credit card and shipping information for their consumers. Other DBAs work for corporations that maintain systems storing patients' medical records, such as healthcare organizations.
• Work Schedule - The great majority of database administrators are full-time employees. 

Professional Development

The majority of your training will be on-the-job. It will mostly consist of technical training on your employer's systems as well as any related software developments. Short internal or external courses will supplement in-house training as needed. Taking additional classes can help you advance in your career, and most employers expect experienced employees to have finished a database certification programme.

Career Prospects

Your career chances will be determined by the type of organization you work. Larger companies may provide defined career pathways to the position of lead or senior database administrator, with increased managerial and technical responsibility.  You could expand out into other areas such as system development, project management, network management, and database architecture are all examples of skills.

Working your way up to a management role is a natural progression, and you may potentially wind up directing a team or an entire department if you gain the requisite experience and qualifications. As a result, with the proper effort and focus, you may be able to function at a more strategic level. 

Sample Interview Questions

1. Difference between navigational DBMS and relational DBMS.

Each value in a Navigational DBMS is related to another and, most of the time, there are no other direct means to access the data. In contrast, Relational DBMS creates a unique key by combining values from numerous tables. This ensures that there are multiple routes to the same location.

2. What is a Database query?

A database query is an action that is closely tied to some form of create, read, update, or delete (CRUD). It is a request for data from a database to be manipulated or retrieved.

3. What Do You Mean by Database Schema?

The database schema is a two-dimensional representation of how each table communicates with one another, allowing you to understand the architecture of a database as a single entity rather than a collection of tables.

4. What is SQLOS?

SQLOS is an abbreviation for SQL Server Operating System. It functions as a mini-OS for SQL Server operations.

Conclusion

Hope this article was able to help you understand the database administrator job description and the different roles and responsibilities. If you are interested in enhancing your skills as a database administrator, we would recommend you to check Simplilearn’s Post Graduate Program in Cloud Computing. This course can help you hone the right skills and help you launch your career as a database administrator.

If you have any questions or doubts, feel free to post them in the comments section below. Our team will get back to you at the earliest.