Database Administrators vs Human Resources Specialists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Database Administrators professionals earn $63,070 more per year than Human Resources Specialists professionals — that's 86.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Database Administrators earns $209,990 compared to $126,540 for Human Resources Specialists.
Salary Range Comparison
Database Administrators$81,630 – $209,990
Human Resources Specialists$45,440 – $126,540
$45,440$209,990
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Database Administrators | Human Resources Specialists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $81,630 | $45,440 | +$36,190 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,900 | $55,870 | +$52,030 |
| Median (50th) | $135,980 | $72,910 | +$63,070 |
| 75th Percentile | $169,480 | $97,270 | +$72,210 |
| 90th Percentile | $209,990 | $126,540 | +$83,450 |
| Mean (Average) | $142,620 | $79,730 | +$62,890 |
Employment Numbers
Database Administrators
64,770
employed nationwide
Human Resources Specialists
917,460
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Database Administrators
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $188,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $170,700 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $166,210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $162,310 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $155,880 |
Best Cities for Human Resources Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $114,080 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $100,600 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $97,340 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $88,050 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $83,930 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Database Administrators or Human Resources Specialists?
Database Administrators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $63,070 (86.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Database Administrators?
Database Administrators salaries range from $81,630 (10th percentile) to $209,990 (90th percentile), with a median of $135,980.
What is the salary range for Human Resources Specialists?
Human Resources Specialists salaries range from $45,440 (10th percentile) to $126,540 (90th percentile), with a median of $72,910.
How many Database Administrators and Human Resources Specialists jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators positions and 917,460 Human Resources Specialists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Human Resources Specialists to Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 while Human Resources Specialists earns $72,910. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS