Database Administrator

A Database Administrator designs, implements, and maintains relational and non-relational databases that store and retrieve data for Australian organisations. They ensure database systems are secure, performant, and compliant with privacy regulations such as the Privacy Act 1988 and relevant industry standards. The role involves monitoring system health, managing user access, performing backups and recovery procedures, and optimising query performance in both on-premises and cloud environments.

Design and implement database schemas using SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Oracle to meet organisational data requirements. Configure and maintain database instances across Windows Server and Linux environments, including patching and version upgrades. Create and execute automated backup and disaster recovery procedures, and conduct regular restoration testing to meet Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) targets. Monitor database performance metrics using native tools or third-party platforms, identify bottlenecks, and optimise query execution plans and indexing strategies. Administer user access and permissions through role-based access control (RBAC), ensuring compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 and organisational security policies. Install, configure, and manage database replication, failover clustering, and high-availability solutions to minimise downtime. Audit and maintain database integrity through consistency checks, constraint validation, and transaction log reviews. Document database architecture, change procedures, and disaster recovery playbooks for operational handover and compliance purposes.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll face on-call roster work including nights and weekends when databases fail or need urgent maintenance. Cloud platforms like AWS and Azure are replacing traditional on-premises roles, so you need continuous reskilling or risk obsolescence. The learning curve is steep: you need solid Linux and Windows fundamentals plus specific database platforms before employers trust you with live systems.

Outside capital cities, jobs exist mainly in regional government offices and larger regional hospitals. Remote work is increasingly common for mid-level and senior DAs, but junior roles usually require on-site presence for hands-on training and incident response.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2621, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Confidentiality and Privacy Compliancecore
• Data Entry and Accuracycore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Microsoft Excel Data Managementcore
• Power BI Reporting and Dashboardscore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Process Documentationcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Reporting and Analyticscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Electronic Document Management
• Process Improvement Identification
• Research and Analysis
• ServiceNow IT Service Management
• Stakeholder Communication
• Team Collaboration
• Time Management and Prioritisation
• Written Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

What Database Administrator workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026