Database Administrators vs Software Developers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Database Administrators professionals earn $2,900 more per year than Software Developers professionals — that's 2.2% higher. At the 90th percentile, Database Administrators earns $209,990 compared to $211,450 for Software Developers.
Salary Range Comparison
Database Administrators$81,630 – $209,990
Software Developers$79,850 – $211,450
$79,850$211,450
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Database Administrators | Software Developers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $81,630 | $79,850 | +$1,780 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,900 | $103,050 | +$4,850 |
| Median (50th) | $135,980 | $133,080 | +$2,900 |
| 75th Percentile | $169,480 | $169,000 | +$480 |
| 90th Percentile | $209,990 | $211,450 | $-1,460 |
| Mean (Average) | $142,620 | $144,570 | $-1,950 |
Employment Numbers
Database Administrators
64,770
employed nationwide
Software Developers
1,654,440
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 Software Developers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $208,270 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $174,910 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $169,340 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $161,970 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $159,240 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Database Administrators or Software Developers?
Database Administrators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $2,900 (2.2% 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 Software Developers?
Software Developers salaries range from $79,850 (10th percentile) to $211,450 (90th percentile), with a median of $133,080.
How many Database Administrators and Software Developers jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators positions and 1,654,440 Software Developers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Software Developers to Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 while Software Developers earns $133,080. 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