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 Software Engineer, Dev Ops
$120K - $145K *
Accelerate progress at the forefront of cloud technology by architecting scalable infrastructures, automating CI/CD processes, and enhancing operational excellence through collaboration and innovation...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Application Engineer/Process Automation Developer-Distributed
$110K - $130K *
Drive the implementation and support of automation and orchestration platforms, collaborating with technology teams to enhance processes and develop reusable web applications, ensuring high availabili...
6 days ago
$81K - $116K *
Elevate business processes by analyzing and optimizing vendor integrations, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to enhance product delivery and streamline operational efficiency in a rem...
3 weeks ago
$93K - $166K *
Transform the future by leading complex projects that drive innovation and efficiency. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver business value while managing scope, schedule, and resources i...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$140K - $160K *
Drive your career with a role that leads data engineering initiatives, collaborates cross-functionally, and implements innovative solutions to enhance data security and performance for scalable cloud...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$95K - $115K *
Unlock potential by driving business intelligence solutions with Power BI. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create impactful data models, reports, and dashboards, ensuring high performance a...
1 week ago
$100K - $135K *
Transform healthcare by developing cloud-native solutions that enhance radiology workflows. As a Senior Software Developer, you'll lead full-stack projects on AWS, ensuring quality and security while...
1 week ago
$100K - $120K *
Contribute to the sustainment and development of Oracle databases, optimizing PL/SQL and APIs. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance data solutions while ensuring performance, security, a...
2 weeks ago
Senior AI Engineer with Amazon Bedrock AgentCore
$135K - $160K *
Unlock the future of AI as you design and enhance multi-agent orchestration frameworks, implementing state management and human-in-the-loop workflows to empower enterprise-level agent development at s...
2 weeks ago
$130K - $155K *
Lead data architecture initiatives by optimizing serverless data pipelines and enhancing analytics capabilities through AWS services like SageMaker and Glue. Collaborate on data lakes and AI integrati...
3 weeks ago
Director, Mainframe Systems Programming
$135K - $205K *
Lead the charge in delivering client-focused mainframe solutions. Oversee diverse projects, manage teams, and leverage strategic insights to enhance hardware and software lifecycle management while fo...
1 week ago
ServiceNow System Administator
$95K - $120K *
Transform your career by joining a dynamic IT Services team as a ServiceNow System Administrator. Collaborate with stakeholders to design and enhance enterprise solutions, ensuring optimal performance...
2 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Transform enterprise architecture by leading solution design initiatives that align technology with business goals, ensuring optimal performance, scalability, and compliance across systems and applica...
Reposted 6 days ago
$110K - $125K *
Help us enhance our automation solutions and CI/CD processes to optimize feature delivery, guiding cloud infrastructure and documenting practices while mentoring peers in a collaborative environment...
Reposted 6 days ago
$156K - $255K *
Partner with us to drive revenue growth by engaging in sales pursuits, demonstrating business value, and advising teams on value management principles to ensure successful customer outcomes and impact...
1 week ago
$69K - $104K *
Transform the landscape of identity security by managing and expanding client relationships. Drive sales success through strategic planning, pipeline management, and collaboration with internal teams...
2 weeks ago
Senior ServiceNow Developer/Architect
$125K - $150K *
Champion enterprise solutions by leading the design and optimization of ServiceNow platforms. Drive architecture, governance, and delivery across multiple domains, ensuring scalability and performance...
Yesterday
Colleague Technical Modernizations Consultant | Remote
$90K - $110K *
Join a team that's transforming higher education through technical modernization, leveraging your expertise in Colleague solutions to guide clients in successful migrations to cloud-based systems, enh...
2 weeks ago
Senior Analyst, Data Analytics
$76K - $125K *
Join a team that's dedicated to delivering accurate sales reporting and data maintenance. This role supports sales leaders and partners by managing reporting queues, ensuring data integrity, and enhan...
2 weeks ago
Senior Observability Engineer (New Relic Consolidation)
$130K - $155K *
Optimize the multi-tenant New Relic consolidation layer, aggregating telemetry across AI agent estates. Collaborate with engineering teams to enhance observability practices and ensure effective monit...
6 days ago
$125K - $150K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of AI by architecting and building intelligent workflows to integrate models and enterprise data into scalable, production-ready solutions that ensure compliance...
2 weeks ago
CyberArk SME / DevOps Engineer
$70K - $110K *
Elevate your career as a CyberArk SME/DevOps Engineer, implementing secure solutions for federal modernization. Leverage your expertise in privileged access management to drive best practices and enha...
Yesterday
Senior DevOps Engineer (Active Secret Clearance)
$185K - $230K *
Lead the charge in optimizing cloud and on-prem environments, ensuring seamless software deployments and enhancements. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovative solutions and support...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Security Consultant, Application Security
$75K - $175K *
Advance application security initiatives by leading manual code reviews, penetration tests, and threat modeling. Work closely with clients to strengthen their secure development processes, delivering...
Reposted 1 week ago
Monitoring & Observability SME
$150K - $185K *
Drive the deployment of advanced observability solutions, ensuring optimal performance monitoring and compliance for federal missions. Mentor teams and analyze architectures to enhance system reliabil...
1 week 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.