Database Administrators
Official O*NET title: Database Administrators (15-1242.00)
Also called: database administration manager, database administrator, database analyst, database coordinator, database engineer
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing database administrators work
12 of 14 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Red (lots of AI use) — 86%. 1 newer task is not in the data yet and left out.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Develop standards and guidelines for the use and acquisition of software and to protect vulnerable information (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Identify, evaluate and recommend hardware or software technologies to achieve desired database performance (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Plan, coordinate, and put in place security measures to safeguard information in computer files against accidental or unauthorized damage, modification or disclosure (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Develop data models describing data elements and how they are used, following procedures and using pen, template, or computer software (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Review procedures in database management system manuals to make changes to database (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Write and code logical and physical database descriptions and specify identifiers of database to management system, or direct others in coding descriptions (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Train users and answer questions (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Specify users and user access levels for each segment of database (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Provide technical support to junior staff or clients (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Test changes to database applications or systems (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Approve, schedule, plan, and supervise the installation and testing of new products and improvements to computer systems (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Select and enter codes to monitor database performance and to create production databases (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Identify and evaluate industry trends in database systems to serve as a source of information and advice for upper management — some recorded AI use
- Review workflow charts developed by programmer analyst to understand tasks computer will perform — no recorded AI use
- Revise company definition of data as defined in data dictionary — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications”. Try the prompt for: “Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and database administrators
Will AI replace database administrators?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 12 of the 15 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Red rating (lots of AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 4 of the 18 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which database administrator tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications; modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes; develop standards and guidelines for the use and acquisition of software and to protect vulnerable information.
Which database administrator tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: test changes to database applications or systems; approve, schedule, plan, and supervise the installation and testing of new products and improvements to computer systems; review workflow charts developed by programmer analyst to understand tasks computer will perform. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 88% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a database administrator start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Database Administrators ranks #9 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #2 of 30 in Tech. It’s in our top 50 jobs most changed by AI.
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