Oracle DBA

Oracle DBA Jobs

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Computers aren’t going anywhere.

We’ve become too dependent on them.

Jobs related to computer and network systems will only become bigger in the next 10 years. All industries rely on computer systems and rely on digital data solutions.

For database systems, most small business users typically use Microsoft’s SQL Server. However, mid-sized to large corporations and government agencies usually prefer using Oracle databases. So, prospects for Oracle DBA jobs are looking good.

If you’re looking to build a career in this field, you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we provide you with everything you need to know on how to become a database administrator and how to have a flourishing career in this field.

In A Nutshell

Database administrators work with software and database platforms. They maintain information accessibility and protect sensitive data. Specifically, an Oracle database administrator designs, implements, and maintains an Oracle database.

Key Tasks:

Evaluating the Oracle database server
Installing the Oracle software
Planning the Oracle database
Creating and running the database
Creating backups
Processing the enrolment of users into the system
Implementing the design of the database
Tuning Oracle database performance

Skills Needed:

Database design
Proficiency in SQL and PL/SQL
Knowledge of Wizards & GUI vs command line

Education and Certifications Required:

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or other related fields
Oracle Database Certifications

Annual Salary:

Median Annual Salary: $90,070
Average Annual Salary: $92,030

For Beginners

If you’re looking for Oracle database administrator jobs for freshers, you may want to begin your career by earning a degree. Information Technology, Computer Science, or similar fields will be most beneficial. You would also be wise to start honing basic database administration skills. These include proficiency in basic programming languages and in various operating systems.

Specifically, you must have a good grasp of SQL and be adept at using Linux.

You also need practical experience in installing and configuring Oracle in different operating systems such as Linux, UNIX, and Windows Server. You can use Oracle Live SQL, a live public database environment, to practice creating schemas, writing SQL and PL/SQL scripts, and running these scripts. You can also use Oracle VirtualBox to run multiple virtual machines with different operating systems on your computer. This allows you to be familiar with the Oracle database system in a safe environment.

To get Oracle database administrator jobs, you would also need to develop your skills in basic monitoring and tuning, creating backups, and recovering databases. Learn to identify issues that affect the performance of an Oracle database, and find solutions such as rebuilding indexes and tables. The best way to master these skills is through practical experience.

Try volunteering at small organizations or local businesses so you can practice your SQL and Linux skills. If you’re already part of a database management team, ask your DBA to include you in more projects. Even if it requires you performing just menial tasks. The simplest tasks are great learning opportunities to develop your database administration skills!

It would also be useful for you to know which Oracle database certification is best. Certifications prove your theoretical knowledge and technical abilities. They set a benchmark in the industry so the more certifications you have, the better your employment prospects will look. For Oracle database administration, work your way through this Oracle certifications list from the Oracle University:

Oracle Certified Junior Associate
Oracle Certified Associate
Oracle Certified Professional
Oracle Certified Master
Oracle Certified Expert
Oracle Certified Specialist

You need to take courses and examinations to get certified. If your goal is to get Oracle DBA jobs entry level, you can start by taking the Oracle DBA 11g/12c Database Administration for Junior DBA course. This course usually lasts only six weeks and would give you enough knowledge to do well in an entry-level position.

However, if you still don’t have a good grasp of programming languages and operating systems, you may want to take the Oracle SQL Certification Course first.

You have plenty of learning options depending on how flexible your schedule is. So, it’s really not impossible to embark on a career in Oracle administration even if you’re still gainfully employed elsewhere. Oracle University offers several in-class and online courses and training, self-study courses, and training subscriptions.

How fast you move up from an entry-level position to a senior oracle database administrator depends on your skills. Strive to develop proficiency as a DBA by continually taking courses and keeping up to date on the latest developments in Oracle.

Oracle DBA Job Description

Disclaimer: This is a general job description for this position. Every employer will have different criteria for hiring.

Whether you want to know what skills you need, certifications you need to take, how much salary you can expect, or where you would have the best chances of employment, we have the information you need. Read on to know what it takes to be an Oracle DBA!

Oracle DBAs are database administrators who specialize in Oracle Database Management. They have the same duties as other database administrators. However, they need to always be on top of Oracle updates to be efficient at their jobs. They typically work for mid to large-sized companies and maintain the company database to ensure its efficiency and data security.

Oracle DBA Key Responsibilities

Oracle DBA responsibilities include the usual database administration including installation, configuration, design, and data migration. They also include capacity planning, evaluating database hardware, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, data security, and data recovery.

Among their responsibilities are:

Allocating system storage for the Oracle database system.
Creating backups and facilitating recovery of database information.
Creating primary objects such as tables, views, and indexes.
Creating primary tablespaces or database storage structures.
Designing scripts and developing tools to automate periodic tasks.
Enrolling users and controlling and monitoring user access.
Installing and upgrading the Oracle server and its application tools.
Modifying the database structure using insight from application developers.
Monitoring and optimizing Oracle database performance.
Overseeing data analysis and database management.
Planning future storage requirements for the database system.

Additional responsibilities for those in higher positions may include:

Coordinating with consultants and vendors for patches and upgrades.
Creating and maintaining data dictionaries, physical databases, and logical database models.
Ensuring backup and recovery of data and providing after-hour maintenance.
Researching and evaluating innovative technology solutions.
Writing documentation and guidelines to help support database system operations.

Daily Activities

Most Oracle DBAs work full time and often in shifting schedules for 24-hour database administration. Their typical day would generally require performing the following daily tasks:

Conduct health check of the Database Instance and Listener.
Check the Alert log in regular intervals to solve the ORA errors.
Check for any blocking sessions.
Ensure that there are no failed or broken DBMS_JOBS.
Perform daily tablespace utilization.
Rebuild indexes if bulk load of data is inserted.
Check temporary tablespace/files.
Monitor all database file systems and archive log location.
Create, verify, and monitor database backups.
Monitoring production database performance.
Trace SQL from high CPU/Memory/Physical IO consuming processes.
Verify that DBSNMP is running.
Conduct daily RMAN and export backups after business hours.
Conduct user management and user profile monitoring.

Database administrators need to read DBA manuals and check the Oracle license regularly. They must not run, execute, or create anything beyond the Oracle license policy.

Key areas of expertise

All database administrators must be highly knowledgeable in database design and implementation. They also need to be good at programming, database theory, database management systems, and networking basics. Aside from these, they should have specialized knowledge in specific fields of database administration including expertise in proprietary multi-model database. Taking certifications to validate knowledge and experiences in database administration can enhance reputation in the industry. These can also make your Oracle database administrator resume stand out in the vast talent pool.

Oracle Database Jobs Salary

Database administrators earn annual salaries between $50,340 and $138,320. Some Oracle DBA jobs at entry level receive as little as $50,000 a year. Annual wages of about $80,000 are often more common for junior database administrators. Separately, top-level administrators earn a hefty $123,740 in annual wage across the country.

The lowest paying state in the US is Wyoming with a mean annual wage of only $59,780. For better compensation packages, consider finding employment in New Jersey, which offers the highest pay for database administrators – $110,160 per year.

Better yet, look for DBA jobs in California. The state offers both high employment levels and high average incomes. In 2018, 10,970 database administrators were earning an average income of $100,890 per year.

Oracle DBA: Suitability for freelance

So, can you work remotely as an Oracle DBA?

Yes, you can!

Your tasks would depend on your clients and the needs that they have. Be it full-time or project-based, your responsibilities would focus on monitoring the database of the organization. This includes database security, maintenance, and improvement. Other tasks may be troubleshooting software defects and creating Oracle database objects.

No matter the tasks, freelancing as an Oracle DBA would give you the following benefits:

Flexibility
Unlimited earning potential
Varied working experience
Improved competitiveness

Management position possibility

When searching for “database administrator jobs near me,” you’ll know that there are plenty of career development opportunities for Oracle DBAs. As you earn more certifications and gain professional experience, you can advance to senior-level positions and handle larger databases.

Advancement is also possible by becoming a computer and information systems manager. There’s also the possibility of shifting to a career in a related field – the skills you hone as an Oracle DBA are also necessary for SQL jobs and similar occupations.

Job Outlook

The employment of data administrators in all industries is projected to grow by 9% from 2018 to 2028. This growth is relatively high compared to the outlook for other occupations. This will mainly be due to the increased data needs of companies in all economic sectors.

For industry-specific growth, there’s a 21% projected growth in cloud computing firms in data processing, hosting, and related services industry. Even higher than that is a 24% projected increase in computer systems design and related services industry. So, if you’ll be looking for Oracle DBA jobs in USA in the next few years, you have very good prospects.

Oracle DBA Jobs: Salary Range

The range of Oracle database certification salary is among the highest in the industry. Percentile wage estimates for database administrators range from $50,340 at the 10% percentile to $138,320 at the 90% percentile. The median annual wage is $90,070.

The mean annual wage of 110,090 database administrators employed in 2018 was $92,030. It’s important to note that your salary as an Oracle DBA would depend on your location, employer, and current skill level and experience.

Oracle DBA jobs in Maryland: Out of all the states, Maryland has the third-highest job concentration when it comes to database administration. Oracle DBAs in Annapolis, Maryland get an average base pay of $88,975. Meanwhile, the average salaries for Oracle DBAs in Delaware and Virginia, the top two states with the highest job concentration, are $77,260 and $82,193, respectively.
Oracle DBA jobs in Texas: The state with the highest level of employment is Texas. Oracle database administrators earn an average annual salary of $92,375, which is 4% above the national average.
DBA jobs in Wyoming: One of the states with the lowest level of employment, Wyoming’s Oracle DBAs earn salaries that are a bit below the national average. Annually, they earn about $81,434.
Oracle DBA jobs in New York: Database administrators in New York City earn a salary of $90,360 per year, which is 2% above the national average.
DBA jobs in New Jersey: As the top paying state for this occupation, Oracle DBAs earn an annual income of $92,052. This makes their salary 4% above the national average.
Oracle DBA jobs in California: Those who want to be an Oracle DBA have higher chances of employment and better wages in California. This state has the second-highest employment level with 10,970 database administrator jobs filled in 2018. It also has the third-highest average income in the entire country at $100,890 per year. The salary of Oracle DBAs in this state is $91,148, which is 3% above the national average.

Here are other wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that may be helpful when you’re looking for Oracle DBA jobs in the US.

Annual Mean Wage in Top Paying Industries

$111,880 – Nonresidential Building Construction
$111,380 – Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing
$110,950 – Oil and Gas Extraction

Annual Mean Wage in Top Paying States

$110,160 – New Jersey
$104,700 – Washington
$100,890 – California

Oracle DBA Jobs: Freelance Opportunities

While many database managers work remotely and enjoy flexibility in schedule and location as freelancers, it’s not often the same for Oracle DBAs. Since Oracle is mostly used by large corporations, it can be difficult to find high-paying remote Oracle DBA jobs.

Still, there are good freelancing opportunities from startups and small businesses. These jobs can give you the practical experience you need to become an expert. In terms of salary, the average freelance rate is $59. Working 8 hours a day, means earning about $472 per day. If you’re lucky, you may just be able to find some suitable freelance Oracle DBA jobs NYC and other states have to offer.

Education

Jobs as an Oracle DBA require a bachelor’s degree. Any degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related fields would give you the foundation to become a database administration expert.

Aside from this, you would also need to take courses and get certifications to qualify for Oracle DBA jobs in NYC and other states. While technical competence can only be gained through experience, having certifications validates your theoretical knowledge. To be an Oracle certified database administrator, you can get certifications on different levels:

Associate Certification

Pass two tests to become an Oracle Certified Associate (OCA), and be a team member or application developer in a junior database management. Aside from the mandatory Oracle Database 11g: Administration I test, you need to pass one other test. Choose any of these three courses to specialize in: Oracle Database 12c: SQL Fundamentals, Oracle Database SQL Expert, or Oracle Database 11g: SQL Fundamentals.

Professional Certification

After getting your OCA certification, advance your career in database administration by becoming an Oracle Certified Professional (OCP). This gives the knowledge and training needed to manage large databases. You need to take an instructor-led course, pass the Oracle Database 11g: Administration II exam, and finish a hands-on course to get a professional certification.

Master Certification

The Oracle Certified Master (OCM) is the highest Oracle certification available. It validates your expertise and capability to work in senior levels at IT departments. To get this certification, you’ll need an OCP certification, complete two advanced courses, take a two-day Oracle Database 11g: Certified Master Exam, and finish a hands-on course.

These are just three of the six levels currently available in the Oracle University. They give you an edge over others in the tough competition for database administrators. Each course you take to get certified cover sub-fields such as applications, enterprise management, operating systems, and databases and enable you to build expertise.

Technical Skills

Database administrator jobs are highly technical occupations that require proficiency in many technical skills. Among those skills that you must possess and continue to hone are:

Database Administration—using RUB, UML, C, C++, SQL, .NET.
Experience in Operating Systems such as UNIX, Solaris, and Linux.
Experience in MySQL and PostgreSQL.
Product Development.
Data Application Architecture Design.
Object-Oriented Analysis and Design.
Web Software Design and Systems Administration.
Troubleshooting databases for performance.
Creating and maintaining UNIX shell and Perl scripts.
Basic programming languages such as HTML and XML.

For Oracle DBA jobs, you must also work on developing these skills:

Oracle Database Administration – using RUB, UML, C, C++, SQL, .NET.
Experience with Oracle Exadata and Golden gate.
Installation and configuration of Oracle database system.
Good knowledge of DBMS series of packages.
Good command over SQL and PL/SQL including understanding SQL queries.
Knowledge on Wizards & GUI vs command line.

Non-technical Skills

While DBA jobs are highly technical, some soft skills are also needed. DBAs often work in small teams and collaborate with other team members. Some non-technical skills you would need in an Oracle DBA job are:

Excellent communication skills

You’ll be working on teams and need to communicate effectively with other team members. So, you must have excellent oral and written communication skills. As you advance to more senior positions, you would also be interacting with developers, suppliers, managers, and other people beyond your team.

Analytical Skills

Good analytical skills are needed to determine when an action needs to be done based on the performance of a database system. You must be adept in technical analysis so you can evaluate complex information from different sources.

Detail-oriented

In database administration, minor errors cause major problems. So, you must have a keen eye for even the most minute details to ensure that errors are instantly identified and addressed.

Problem-solving skills

When problems are identified, you must have the necessary skills to determine the most appropriate solution. That way you can troubleshoot and correct these problems.

In Conclusion

We live in a highly digitized world. Basically everything we do requires some sort of technology. So it’s only logical that there will be more and more jobs are popping up in this field.

Business organizations in all industries are bound to rely on digital solutions to streamline their operations. They will also be relying on digital storage solutions such as the Oracle public cloud.

Oracle DBA jobs will continue to be in demand. You’ve made the right choice if you’ve decided to pursue such a career.

To build a successful career in this field, you need to be familiar with Oracle DBA job requirements. Strive to gain all the necessary skills needed to be an expert in the industry.

We’ve got your back!

We gave you a comprehensive list of all that is needed to be a database administrator. Just follow our guide and you’ll start a fruitful career as an Oracle DBA in no time!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an Oracle DBA certification?

Oracle Database certification exams can be taken online or in class at Oracle University. They will help you become more productive and more efficient in different aspects of database management. To become a certified Oracle DBA, you must complete the requirements for each certification track and pass appropriate exams.

These requirements typically include instructor-led courses, examinations, and hands-on courses. Each course covers a specific sub-field of the Oracle System. There are currently six certification levels available for Oracle DBAs. These are Junior Associate, Associate, Specialist, Professional, Expert, and Master.

Which DBA certification is best?

To have a fulfilling career and get a senior position, you must aim to get the latest and highest Oracle certification possible which is the Oracle Certified Master (OCM) certification. To get this, you must obtain the first two certification levels first. Start with the Oracle Certified Associate (OCA) then the Oracle Certified Professional (OCP). The associate certification would enable you to work as a junior oracle database administrator. On the professional level, there are over 50 courses you can choose from depending on which specific skills you want to gain. At the final level, you can choose from over 30 advanced courses to master in.

Is Oracle easy to learn?

If you already have a good grasp of Linux and SQL, learning Oracle will be relatively easy for you. Oracle is fundamentally similar to other relational database systems including the SQL Server. Their database architectural principles are pretty much the same. Oracle runs on Linux and UNIX so knowledge of these operating systems is a big help. Once you’ve learned Linux, you can start working on getting your Oracle certifications. Begin with either the 11g or 12c Certified Associate Certifications. While working on your certifications, you can learn more practical skills through Oracle Live SQL, a site where you can practice setting up schemas and writing or running scripts. Also, try to keep updated on the latest courses you can take such as the Oracle Database 19c.

How much is an Oracle Database Administrator’s salary?

In 2018, the median annual salary for database administrators was $90,070 and the mean annual wage was $92,030. This is higher than the mean and median annual salaries for all jobs. The amount of salary you can expect to receive would depend on your skills, certifications, and experiences. Having an Oracle database administrator certification would most likely get you higher income offers. The industry and geographical location of your employer also plays a factor in determining your probable wage. Consider looking for employment in top-paying states such as New Jersey, Washington, and California. You can expect to receive around $100,000 annually from companies in these three states.

What programming languages does Oracle use?

For Oracle DBA jobs, developers use various programming languages. They can use C, C++, Visual Basic, PL/SQL, COBOL, or Java. They can use the most suitable language for each task as the entire functionality of Oracle is available in all languages. They don’t need prior experience as an SQL developer. They can also simply use languages they’re most proficient in. For database administrators, knowledge in database languages such as SQL, Query, and UNIX/Linux is necessary. For Oracle DBA, PL/SQL is often used as it can group procedures together into packages and are considered more complex and powerful.