Database Administrators vs Human Resources Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Human Resources Managers professionals earn $4,050 more per year than Database Administrators professionals — that's 3.0% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Database Administrators$81,630 – $209,990
Human Resources Managers$83,790 – N/A
$81,630$209,990
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Database Administrators | Human Resources Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $81,630 | $83,790 | $-2,160 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,900 | $105,590 | +$2,310 |
| Median (50th) | $135,980 | $140,030 | $-4,050 |
| 75th Percentile | $169,480 | $189,960 | $-20,480 |
| 90th Percentile | $209,990 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $142,620 | $160,480 | $-17,860 |
Employment Numbers
Database Administrators
64,770
employed nationwide
Human Resources Managers
215,520
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Database Administrators
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $188,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $170,700 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $166,210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $162,310 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $155,880 |
Best Cities for Human Resources Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $176,290 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $172,970 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $161,970 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $155,390 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $147,070 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Database Administrators or Human Resources Managers?
Human Resources Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $4,050 (3.0% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Database Administrators?
Database Administrators salaries range from $81,630 (10th percentile) to $209,990 (90th percentile), with a median of $135,980.
What is the salary range for Human Resources Managers?
Human Resources Managers salaries range from $83,790 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $140,030.
How many Database Administrators and Human Resources Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators positions and 215,520 Human Resources Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Human Resources Managers to Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 while Human Resources Managers earns $140,030. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS