Explore Senior SQL DBA jobs for experienced database professionals ready to lead the design, performance, security, and reliability of critical data platforms. Ladders features vetted professional opportunities paying $100,000 or more, including senior SQL Server and database administration roles across industries.
Senior SQL database administrators oversee database environments that support essential business applications and analytics. Typical responsibilities include managing SQL Server databases, planning and executing upgrades and migrations, monitoring availability, tuning queries and indexes, establishing backup and recovery strategies, and protecting sensitive data. Senior DBAs may also set standards, mentor colleagues, and partner with engineering, infrastructure, security, and business teams.
Employers commonly look for deep experience with relational database administration and SQL, along with expertise in performance troubleshooting, high availability, disaster recovery, capacity planning, and access controls. Familiarity with cloud databases, automation and scripting, database monitoring, and large-scale migrations can also be valuable. Strong communication and the ability to translate business requirements into dependable database solutions are important at the senior level.
Compensation varies by location, industry, company size, platform expertise, and the scope of the role. Senior SQL DBA positions listed on Ladders meet the site’s $100,000-and-above salary focus. Opportunities may include hands-on database leadership, enterprise platform ownership, consulting, or progression into database architecture and data infrastructure management.
Search vetted Senior SQL DBA openings and compare responsibilities, required skills, and compensation. Use your experience with database reliability, performance, security, and modernization to identify roles that match your next career move.
Senior SQL Database Administrator
$110K - $130K *
Unlock potential by managing complex databases and ensuring data integrity. Collaborate with IT teams to design, implement, and maintain database systems while adhering to security protocols and optim...
4 days ago
$120K - $145K *
Lead the charge in database operations, ensuring optimal performance and security for mission-critical systems. Oversee a technical team while aligning with federal standards and integrating with deve...
Yesterday
$160K - $340K *
Grow your career with a strategic role focused on expanding key accounts and winning new enterprise logos. Engage with top-tier clients, drive complex sales cycles, and collaborate across teams to del...
6 days ago
$115K - $150K *
Innovate at the forefront of database management, ensuring performance, reliability, and security in a high-volume SQL Server environment. Lead incident response and engineering solutions to enhance o...
4 days ago
$95K - $158K *
Champion high-availability database platforms, driving automation and cloud modernization. Collaborate with engineering teams to enhance reliability and performance across hybrid environments, ensurin...
1 week ago
Senior Oracle Database Administrator
$85K - $111K *
Join a team that's dedicated to managing Oracle database systems, ensuring optimal performance and security across on-premises and cloud environments. Collaborate with development and infrastructure t...
6 days ago
Principal Database Administrator
$125K - $150K *
Lead the design and implementation of SQL Server architecture, ensuring high availability and disaster recovery across a multi-tenant cloud environment. Collaborate with teams to tackle complex databa...
5 days ago
$155K - $210K *
Empower your career by leading enterprise database architecture and transformation initiatives. Collaborate with executive stakeholders to drive innovation and establish best practices in modern data...
2 weeks ago
Associate Production SQL Server DBA with Secret Clearance (MD DC VA Remote)
$74K - $125K *
Pioneer innovative database solutions as a SQL Server DBA, supporting federal clients. Leverage your expertise to ensure optimal database health, security, and availability while collaborating with cr...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$135K - $160K *
Empower our data platform by designing, building, and operating core capabilities. Collaborate with teams to enhance ingestion, storage, and API functionalities, ensuring scalability and resilience wh...
1 week ago
Manager, Database Administration
$139K - $174K *
Unlock your potential by leading a dynamic database operations team. With over a decade of experience, guide strategic database infrastructure initiatives, ensure system reliability, and foster a cult...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$90K - $189K *
Join a team that's dedicated to modernizing enterprise database solutions. Engage with diverse platforms, leveraging your expertise in administration and maintenance to support mission-critical system...
Reposted today
Senior Data Integration Engineer/ DWH, MS SQL, T-SQL
$110K - $130K *
Contribute to innovative data solutions by designing and maintaining an enterprise data warehouse, building robust ETL pipelines, and delivering impactful analytics that drive key business decisions...
2 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Lead the charge in architecting and managing enterprise SSO solutions, ensuring high availability and security for 70,000+ users. Drive modernization efforts and collaborate across teams to implement...
Today
Senior Software Developer - Databases
$100K - $140K *
Join a team that's modernizing healthcare data access by refactoring SQL Server databases. As a Senior Software Developer, you'll enhance workflows, optimize performance, and ensure secure, efficient...
1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Optimize and support database platforms, focusing on MySQL and SQL Server migrations to AWS. Lead performance tuning, replication, and maintenance while collaborating with developers to enhance databa...
3 days ago
$115K - $125K *
Tackle complex database challenges by designing scalable SQL Server solutions. Collaborate with teams to enhance high-availability applications and optimize performance while ensuring data integrity a...
5 days ago
Senior Database Platform Engineer
$130K - $155K *
Empower business innovation by architecting and automating robust database platforms. Collaborate across teams to enhance data provisioning, security, and performance, ensuring scalable solutions that...
2 weeks ago
Mainframe Systems Programmer - DB2 Physical
$65K - $123K *
Join a team that's dedicated to providing expert DB2 support for mainframe clients. You'll manage database upgrades, maintenance, and performance tuning while ensuring timely solutions to enhance cust...
1 week ago
Senior Manager, Database Platform
$242K - $275K *
Lead and elevate the Database Platform team, driving data architecture, reliability, and team culture for scalable data solutions. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure data integrity and operation...
1 week ago
Senior Infrastructure Engineer
$166K - $230K *
Empower your career as a Senior Infrastructure Engineer focusing on enhancing Lakehouse infrastructure, security, and cost efficiency while collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize data p...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Champion the maintenance and optimization of Oracle databases in AWS, ensuring system integrity and performance. Collaborate with teams to implement solutions, manage configurations, and support compl...
2 weeks ago
$95K - $115K *
Join a dynamic team as you manage enterprise database environments, ensuring optimal performance and security. Collaborate with development teams to deliver scalable solutions while maintaining compli...
4 days ago
Senior Infrastructure Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in designing and enhancing infrastructure solutions across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. Collaborate with teams and vendors to ensure security, reliability, and performa...
2 weeks ago
Site Reliability Engineer III (DBA)
$125K - $150K *
Transform the reliability of production database systems, optimizing performance and architecting solutions. Lead operational procedures while mentoring a skilled team and ensuring seamless service th...
2 weeks ago
What does a Senior SQL DBA do?
A Senior SQL DBA manages and improves database systems, commonly including SQL Server environments. The role often covers performance tuning, backups and recovery, security, upgrades, availability, migrations, and technical guidance for teams.
What qualifications are common for Senior SQL DBA jobs?
Employers typically seek substantial database administration experience, advanced SQL skills, and knowledge of performance optimization, high availability, disaster recovery, and database security. Cloud platforms, automation, and mentoring experience may also be preferred.
How much do Senior SQL DBA jobs pay?
Pay depends on location, industry, employer, and the role’s technical scope. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, including qualifying Senior SQL DBA opportunities.
Are Senior SQL DBA roles limited to SQL Server?
Many roles focus on Microsoft SQL Server, but some employers value experience with other relational database platforms, cloud-managed databases, or hybrid environments. Review each job description for its specific technology requirements.
What career paths can follow a Senior SQL DBA role?
Experienced Senior SQL DBAs may advance into database architecture, data platform engineering, database management, cloud infrastructure, or broader data infrastructure leadership.