Database Administrators vs Project Management Specialists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Database Administrators professionals earn $35,230 more per year than Project Management Specialists professionals — that's 35.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Database Administrators earns $209,990 compared to $165,790 for Project Management Specialists.
Salary Range Comparison
Database Administrators$81,630 – $209,990
Project Management Specialists$59,830 – $165,790
$59,830$209,990
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Database Administrators | Project Management Specialists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $81,630 | $59,830 | +$21,800 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,900 | $76,950 | +$30,950 |
| Median (50th) | $135,980 | $100,750 | +$35,230 |
| 75th Percentile | $169,480 | $131,660 | +$37,820 |
| 90th Percentile | $209,990 | $165,790 | +$44,200 |
| Mean (Average) | $142,620 | $108,100 | +$34,520 |
Employment Numbers
Database Administrators
64,770
employed nationwide
Project Management Specialists
1,006,160
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 Project Management Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,250 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $132,530 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $125,390 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $123,670 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $121,680 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Database Administrators or Project Management Specialists?
Database Administrators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $35,230 (35.0% 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 Project Management Specialists?
Project Management Specialists salaries range from $59,830 (10th percentile) to $165,790 (90th percentile), with a median of $100,750.
How many Database Administrators and Project Management Specialists jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators positions and 1,006,160 Project Management Specialists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Project Management Specialists to Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 while Project Management Specialists earns $100,750. 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