Database Administrators vs Lawyers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Lawyers professionals earn $15,180 more per year than Database Administrators professionals — that's 11.2% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Database Administrators$81,630 – $209,990
Lawyers$72,780 – N/A
$72,780$209,990
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Database Administrators | Lawyers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $81,630 | $72,780 | +$8,850 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,900 | $99,760 | +$8,140 |
| Median (50th) | $135,980 | $151,160 | $-15,180 |
| 75th Percentile | $169,480 | $215,420 | $-45,940 |
| 90th Percentile | $209,990 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $142,620 | $182,760 | $-40,140 |
Employment Numbers
Database Administrators
64,770
employed nationwide
Lawyers
747,750
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 Lawyers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $215,090 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $205,900 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $203,450 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $194,740 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $191,880 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Database Administrators or Lawyers?
Lawyers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $15,180 (11.2% 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 Lawyers?
Lawyers salaries range from $72,780 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $151,160.
How many Database Administrators and Lawyers jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators positions and 747,750 Lawyers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Lawyers to Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 while Lawyers earns $151,160. 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