Data Administration and Database Modeling

<h2 id="section---IsDataAdministrationAndDatabaseModelingForMe">Is Data Administration and Database Modeling for Me?</h2> <h3 id="section---CareerOverview">Career Overview</h3> <p><a href="https://learn.org/articles/Database_Administrator_Jobs_Your_Career_Questions_Answered.html">Database administrators</a> work with companies and individual users to find the best ways to manage information. <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Database_Architect_Jobs_Your_Career_and_Salary_Questions_Answered.html">Database architects</a> collaborate with other software designers to develop data modeling methods that meet business and industry requirements. Because these jobs often involve work with teams of IT professionals, strong communication skills are usually required. A good understanding of computer systems and mathematics is also important. </p> <h3 id="section---EmploymentAndSalaryInformation">Employment and Salary Information</h3> <p>According to reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for database administrators were projected to increase by 15% between 2012 and 2022. As the amount of data stored by companies continues to increase, along with the threat of data security breaches, demand for data administrators should remain high. The annual median income of database administrators in May 2013 was $78,520, as reported by the BLS. With enough experience, administrators may advance into <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Database_Manager_Career_and_Salary_FAQs.html">database management</a> positions. </p> <h2 id="section---HowCanIWorkInDataAdministrationAndDatabaseModeling">How Can I Work in Data Administration and Database Modeling?</h2> <h3 id="section---UndergraduatePrograms">Undergraduate Programs</h3> <p>You might be able to find a few jobs with an <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Associates_Degree_in_Database_Administration_Your_Questions_Answered.html">associate's degree in database administration</a>, but most employers prefer applicants who have a bachelor's degree. As an aspiring database administrator, you could enroll in an <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Information_Technology_BIT_Bachelors_Degree.html">information technology bachelor's program</a>. Common courses in this type of program might include data structures, hardware configurations and database design. </p> <h3 id="section---GraduatePrograms">Graduate Programs</h3> <p>If you already have a bachelor's degree, you can pursue a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Information_Systems_MIS_Masters_Degree.html">master's degree in information systems</a> with a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_are_the_Core_Courses_of_a_Masters_Degree_in_Database_Administration.html">concentration in database administration</a>. As a graduate student, you'll learn how to secure organizational databases, build data warehouses and manage computing projects. Master's programs usually take two years to complete and culminate in a final research assignment. </p> <h3 id="section---Certification">Certification</h3> <p>Earning voluntary certification can lead to additional job opportunities. Various product vendors and professional organizations offer certifications for database workers, such as the <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Certified_Database_Administrator_Certification_and_Career_FAQs.html">Certified Database Administrator</a> credential available through IBM. You should have experience with a particular vendor's database software before pursuing a professional designation. The certification process usually entails completion of an exam.</p>