Database Administrators vs Tax Preparers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Database Administrators professionals earn $85,420 more per year than Tax Preparers professionals — that's 168.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Database Administrators earns $209,990 compared to $96,240 for Tax Preparers.
Salary Range Comparison
Database Administrators$81,630 – $209,990
Tax Preparers$30,500 – $96,240
$30,500$209,990
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Database Administrators | Tax Preparers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $81,630 | $30,500 | +$51,130 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,900 | $37,750 | +$70,150 |
| Median (50th) | $135,980 | $50,560 | +$85,420 |
| 75th Percentile | $169,480 | $75,590 | +$93,890 |
| 90th Percentile | $209,990 | $96,240 | +$113,750 |
| Mean (Average) | $142,620 | $58,860 | +$83,760 |
Employment Numbers
Database Administrators
64,770
employed nationwide
Tax Preparers
73,570
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 Tax Preparers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $83,600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $83,240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $74,670 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $71,990 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $68,160 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Database Administrators or Tax Preparers?
Database Administrators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $85,420 (168.9% 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 Tax Preparers?
Tax Preparers salaries range from $30,500 (10th percentile) to $96,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $50,560.
How many Database Administrators and Tax Preparers jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators positions and 73,570 Tax Preparers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Tax Preparers to Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 while Tax Preparers earns $50,560. 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