Database Administrators vs Pharmacy Technicians: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Database Administrators professionals earn $92,520 more per year than Pharmacy Technicians professionals — that's 212.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Database Administrators earns $209,990 compared to $59,450 for Pharmacy Technicians.
Salary Range Comparison
Database Administrators$81,630 – $209,990
Pharmacy Technicians$35,100 – $59,450
$35,100$209,990
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Database Administrators | Pharmacy Technicians | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $81,630 | $35,100 | +$46,530 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,900 | $36,920 | +$70,980 |
| Median (50th) | $135,980 | $43,460 | +$92,520 |
| 75th Percentile | $169,480 | $48,580 | +$120,900 |
| 90th Percentile | $209,990 | $59,450 | +$150,540 |
| Mean (Average) | $142,620 | $44,800 | +$97,820 |
Employment Numbers
Database Administrators
64,770
employed nationwide
Pharmacy Technicians
487,920
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 Pharmacy Technicians
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $70,740 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $61,990 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $59,960 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $55,810 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $54,740 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Database Administrators or Pharmacy Technicians?
Database Administrators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $92,520 (212.9% 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 Pharmacy Technicians?
Pharmacy Technicians salaries range from $35,100 (10th percentile) to $59,450 (90th percentile), with a median of $43,460.
How many Database Administrators and Pharmacy Technicians jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators positions and 487,920 Pharmacy Technicians positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Pharmacy Technicians to Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 while Pharmacy Technicians earns $43,460. 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