Database Administrators vs Mechanical Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Database Administrators professionals earn $33,660 more per year than Mechanical Engineers professionals — that's 32.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Database Administrators earns $209,990 compared to $161,240 for Mechanical Engineers.
Salary Range Comparison
Database Administrators$81,630 – $209,990
Mechanical Engineers$68,740 – $161,240
$68,740$209,990
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Database Administrators | Mechanical Engineers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $81,630 | $68,740 | +$12,890 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,900 | $81,800 | +$26,100 |
| Median (50th) | $135,980 | $102,320 | +$33,660 |
| 75th Percentile | $169,480 | $130,290 | +$39,190 |
| 90th Percentile | $209,990 | $161,240 | +$48,750 |
| Mean (Average) | $142,620 | $110,080 | +$32,540 |
Employment Numbers
Database Administrators
64,770
employed nationwide
Mechanical Engineers
286,760
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 Mechanical Engineers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $147,730 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $145,640 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $128,660 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $126,870 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $124,160 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Database Administrators or Mechanical Engineers?
Database Administrators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $33,660 (32.9% 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 Mechanical Engineers?
Mechanical Engineers salaries range from $68,740 (10th percentile) to $161,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $102,320.
How many Database Administrators and Mechanical Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators positions and 286,760 Mechanical Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Mechanical Engineers to Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 while Mechanical Engineers earns $102,320. 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