Database Administrators Salary
The median pay for a database administrators in California is $113,060/year ($54.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $178K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $106,520 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 35.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $113K get you in California?
About database administrators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in California
Database administrators pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $113K locally vs. $105K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 36.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level database administrators (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $113K. Top earners bring in $178K or more, a $116K spread from bottom to top.
Database Administrators salary by metro in California
18 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $139K | +23% | 580 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $131K | +16% | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $128K | +13% | 1,470 |
| Vallejo | $126K | +11% | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $124K | +10% | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $121K | +7% | 410 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $113K | -0% | 2,280 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $107K | -6% | 730 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $105K | -7% | 90 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $104K | -8% | 40 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $103K | -9% | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $100K | -12% | 370 |
| Modesto | $98K | -13% | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $95K | -16% | 60 |
| Chico | $94K | -17% | 30 |
| Fresno | $91K | -20% | 100 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $89K | -21% | 90 |
| Salinas | $84K | -26% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 18 metros
Compare to other states
Track database administrators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Technology
Frequently asked questions
Can a database administrator afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $113K, rent takes 36.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for database administrators in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new database administrators typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,745/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 66% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is database administrator a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $113K locally vs. $105K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for database administrators?
California pays $113K median vs. the U.S. average of $105K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do database administrators make in California?
The median is $113,060 a year, that works out to about $54 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,410, and experienced database administrators can clear $178,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $113K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,773/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 36.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a database administrators salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median database administrators salary is worth about $106,520 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do database administrators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.