As a database administrator, you will find yourself tasked with making sure that the information within a company's database is safe and that the data remains intact. You will also need to keep people informed of the network status, and if you are one of only a few technicians there, then you will need to send network messages or post-it notes, whichever you prefer. Imagine how irritating it would be for all of the data to suddenly be gone one morning and all the records of clients, work, and contracts just sort of gone. A company would be devastated! This is the reason that the database administrator exists - to keep backups and to make sure that the servers are running smoothly. When the server is running right, no one thinks about the database administrator, but as soon as there's a problem, everyone runs to the IT office screaming for help because their Internets were broken.
One serious issue is that these jobs are usually understaffed. If there is a problem, you may be one of only a few people in the office and you will have to deal with the technical issues that may drive you crazy. You will also be dealing with unhappy workers in the office every single day of the week. Yes, it can get frustrating, but for those who can handle it it's not an entirely big deal.
This being a part of the IT field, you will need to have a four-year degree in computer science. You may also need to dabble in Management Information Systems and take a few business related courses. It would also of course help to have a specific certification in one or more database programs so that you can jump right into your job when you get hired. As a matter of fact, there are some companies that will require that you have that certification before you even start a job. Some databases include mySQL and Oracle. Those are the two more popular ones around, though there are certainly others.
The salary for this job is fairly decent, you will be making approximately $90,000 dollars per year, but that could raise as you gain more experience and you may find yourself being promoted within the company that you are working for and climbing up that corporate ladder like you've always dreamed of.
The requirements are a bit steep, and you will have to decide whether this is a career that you really want to do. Don't have any illusions; this is a difficult job and it can become very stressful. Make sure that you can handle the stress and meet the educational requirements, and if you can, then this will be a great career for you. Remember that if you can master the basics of this job and make your way, you will have a job that is not going to go anywhere anytime soon. There are too few people who have managed to master the dynamics of database management.
