Database Administrator salary in California
Database Administrators in California earn a median of $113,060 a year ($54.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,240 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $178,310 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $104,620. California ranks 11th of 51 states for database administrators pay. There are 0.40 database administrators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $121,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for database administrators in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,410 | $30.01 |
| 25th percentile | $83,720 | $40.25 |
| Median | $113,060 | $54.35 |
| 75th percentile | $154,360 | $74.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $178,310 | $85.73 |
| Average (mean) | $121,500 | $58.41 |
Half of database administrators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,421.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,710.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,348.46 |
| Weekly | $2,174.23 |
| Hourly | $54.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Database Administrator salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $138,620 | 580 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $130,780 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $127,760 | 1,470 |
| Vallejo, CA | $125,600 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $124,040 | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $120,500 | 410 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $112,540 | 2,280 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $106,820 | 730 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $104,880 | 90 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $104,340 | 40 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $102,510 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $99,870 | 370 |
| Modesto, CA | $97,850 | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $94,920 | 60 |
| Chico, CA | $93,650 | 30 |
| Fresno, CA | $90,860 | 100 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $89,070 | 90 |
| Salinas, CA | $83,970 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for database administrators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Utah | $135,750 |
| Massachusetts | $129,300 |
| New Jersey | $125,860 |
| Maryland | $124,300 |
| District of Columbia | $118,540 |
| Colorado | $118,340 |
| Washington | $118,140 |
| Tennessee | $115,500 |
| Texas | $114,400 |
| North Carolina | $113,900 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $174,410 | $83.85 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $134,440 | $64.63 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $127,720 | $61.40 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $128,740 | $61.89 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $136,110 | $65.44 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $106,440 | $51.18 |
| Information Security Analyst | $138,570 | $66.62 |
| Computer Network Architect | $158,870 | $76.38 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $79,190 | $38.07 |
| Computer Programmer | $116,760 | $56.13 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $159,100 | $76.49 |
| Web Developer | $119,570 | $57.48 |
| Database Architect | $170,160 | $81.81 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1242. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a database administrator make in California?
The median salary for database administrators in California is $113,060 a year, or $54.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $178,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid database administrators make in California?
The top 10% of database administrators in California earn at least $178,310 a year. The top 25% earn $154,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for database administrators in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,410 a year, and a quarter of database administrators earn $83,720 or less.
How many database administrators work in California?
About 7,240 database administrators are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.