Database Administrators vs Industrial Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Database Administrators professionals earn $34,840 more per year than Industrial Engineers professionals — that's 34.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Database Administrators earns $209,990 compared to $157,140 for Industrial Engineers.
Salary Range Comparison
Database Administrators$81,630 – $209,990
Industrial Engineers$70,000 – $157,140
$70,000$209,990
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Database Administrators | Industrial Engineers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $81,630 | $70,000 | +$11,630 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,900 | $81,910 | +$25,990 |
| Median (50th) | $135,980 | $101,140 | +$34,840 |
| 75th Percentile | $169,480 | $127,480 | +$42,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $209,990 | $157,140 | +$52,850 |
| Mean (Average) | $142,620 | $107,900 | +$34,720 |
Employment Numbers
Database Administrators
64,770
employed nationwide
Industrial Engineers
350,230
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 Industrial Engineers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $139,130 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $133,790 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $126,530 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $126,310 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Database Administrators or Industrial Engineers?
Database Administrators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $34,840 (34.4% 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 Industrial Engineers?
Industrial Engineers salaries range from $70,000 (10th percentile) to $157,140 (90th percentile), with a median of $101,140.
How many Database Administrators and Industrial Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators positions and 350,230 Industrial Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Industrial Engineers to Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 while Industrial Engineers earns $101,140. 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