What is a Database Administrator?

Database Administrators (DBAs) manage, maintain, and support databases to ensure optimal performance, security, and reliability. DBAs establish database systems, ensuring they are accessible to appropriate users and secure from unauthorized access. They organize database structure, plan capacity needs, implement upgrades and manage parameters to ensure seamless database performance. DBAs monitor system health and performance, analyze and tune database performance, perform scheduled maintenance and support release deployment activities, execute backups and lead recovery efforts when necessary. They often collaborate with Information Technology (IT) project managers, database programmers and multimedia programmers. 

Salary Range

25th Percentile
$ 0
50th Percentile
$ 0
75th Percentile
$ 0

Foundational Skills

Adaptability, Basic Computer Competencies, Communication, Creative Thinking, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Customer Focus, Dependability, Detail Orientation, Humility, Initiative, Instruction/Teaching, Integrity, Interpersonal Competencies, Leadership, Lifelong Learning, Mathematics, Problem Solving/ Decision Making, Professionalism, Reading, Scheduling/Coordinating, Science & Technology, Teamwork and Writing

Occupational Skills

Database Design and Modeling

This involves creating the detailed data models that define the database structure, determining how data is stored, organized, and accessed. It often includes establishing relationships among data elements and designing schemata according to rules and constraints to ensure data integrity and efficiency.

Novice Level
  • Can understand basic database concepts, such as entities, relationships, and normalization

Emerging Level
  • Can effectively design and implement simple database structures using relational or NoSQL databases

Proficient Level
  • Possesses in-depth database design expertise, creating complex data models that meet the organization’s specific data storage and retrieval requirements

Data Management and Querying

Skills required to handle and manipulate data within the database. It includes the ability to write complex queries to retrieve, insert, update, and delete data, ensuring data is accurate and readily accessible when needed.

Novice Level
  • Can perform basic data manipulation tasks, such as inserting, updating, and deleting data using SQL queries

Emerging Level
  • Can effectively manage and query data from various database systems, utilizing advanced SQL techniques and data manipulation statements
Proficient Level
  • Possesses in-depth data management expertise, optimizing data retrieval, implementing data warehousing solutions, and handling complex data transformations

Database Performance Tuning

This involves optimizing and refining the database to improve its performance. Techniques may include indexing, query optimization, configuring database settings and fine-tuning the operating environment to ensure quick and efficient data retrieval and transaction processing.

Novice Level
  • Can identify basic performance issues and apply simple optimization techniques
Emerging Level
  • Can effectively analyze database performance metrics, identify performance bottlenecks, and implement optimization strategies to improve database efficiency
Proficient Level
  • Possesses in-depth performance tuning expertise, utilizing advanced analysis tools, optimizing query performance, and addressing scalability challenges

Database Security and Access Control

Protecting the integrity, confidentiality and availability of the database is crucial. This includes implementing security measures like access controls, authentication, encryption, and auditing to prevent unauthorized access and ensure data protection.

Novice Level
  • Can understand basic database security concepts and implement simple security measures
Emerging Level
  • Can effectively implement and enforce security protocols, including user authentication, data encryption, and access control mechanisms
Proficient Level
  • Possesses in-depth database security expertise, conducting risk assessments, implementing security best practices, and safeguarding against cyberattacks

Troubleshooting and Problem-Solving

Involves identifying and resolving issues that arise within the database environment. It requires a systematic approach to diagnose problems and the ability to implement solutions to restore functionality and service levels.

Novice Level
  • Can identify basic database problems and follow troubleshooting procedures
Emerging Level
  • Can effectively troubleshoot complex database issues, analyzing error logs, diagnosing root causes, and implementing solutions to restore database functionality
Proficient Level
  • Possesses in-depth troubleshooting expertise, utilizing advanced diagnostic tools, resolving complex performance issues, and handling critical data recovery scenarios

Resources

Experience + Training

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