Senior SQL DBA Jobs

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.

What Senior SQL DBAs Do

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.

Skills and Experience Employers Seek

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.

Senior SQL DBA Salary and Opportunities

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.

Find Senior SQL DBA Roles on Ladders

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.

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$90K - $100K *

Advance your career by supporting cloud operations in a dynamic team. You'll manage requests, coordinate changes, and document processes, ensuring smooth communication and operational efficiency in a...

Arlington, VARemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of cloud infrastructure by deploying and managing PostgreSQL and Kafka on Kubernetes. Drive automation, ensure high availability, and empower product teams with s...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$91K - $146K *

Innovate by engineering and automating high-availability Linux infrastructure across hybrid environments, ensuring optimal performance and reliability through advanced configuration management and clo...

Chicago, ILRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$160K - $200K *

Join a dynamic team to lead data and AI initiatives in Financial Services, partnering with senior executives to drive strategic transformations and deliver value through innovative solutions and deep...

Branford, CTRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$160K - $200K *

Lead transformative data and AI initiatives in Financial Services, partnering with C-level executives to drive strategic value. Oversee project portfolios and mentor consultants, leveraging deep exper...

Toronto, ONRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $140K *

Transform the tech landscape by creating innovative solutions as a Full Stack Engineer. Join a dynamic team, shaping product features that enhance lives while driving best practices in a fast-paced st...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$99K - $138K *

Transform dealer relationships in the Southeast by driving retail growth, onboarding partners, and serving as a trusted advisor. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance dealer experiences and bring...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$88K - $111K *

Unlock potential by leading equity and financial reconciliation efforts, ensuring accurate data migration and reporting while collaborating with stakeholders and mentoring junior team members to deliv...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Elevate your career by leading the development of innovative software solutions that enhance integration with IBM z/OS environments, addressing complex challenges in enterprise automation systems with...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$118K - $178K *

Lead the charge in evolving product architecture and technology roadmaps for customer engagement solutions, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards and driving improvements in data quality and in...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$78K - $156K *

Lead the design and configuration of business systems for Epic Beaker/EpicCare Link. Serve as a primary support contact, mentor junior analysts, and drive continuous improvement in workflows and techn...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$95K - $115K *

Create impactful data visualizations and analytics solutions using Microsoft Power BI. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance decision-making for the U.S. Postal Service's Inspector Genera...

Arlington, VARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $190K *

Drive the design and operation of robust AI systems, leading technical delivery and guiding teams in building high-throughput pipelines and production services that enhance customer engagement across...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$130K - $190K *

Shape the future of AI by building scalable AI agents that drive innovation across healthcare applications, fostering collaboration with diverse teams to implement advanced solutions and ensure operat...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$160K - $200K *

Lead the strategic vision and execution of an enterprise file system portfolio, ensuring market leadership through effective product strategy, customer engagement, and a high-performing product manage...

Fort Lauderdale, FLRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$155K - $173K *

Join a team that's driving engineering excellence by designing scalable systems, influencing cross-team initiatives, and delivering high-impact solutions while mentoring engineers and upholding high s...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Media

$125K - $150K *

Lead the charge in providing strategic risk management solutions for high-profile clients. Drive growth and profitability while mentoring teams and influencing market trends through expert knowledge a...

Solon, OHRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$135K - $160K *

Elevate your career by building transformative backend services and distributed systems that empower enterprises to monitor AI effectively. Drive projects from vague concepts to deployed products whil...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$90K - $153K *

Engineer and deploy secure AI-driven applications and automation solutions, enhancing operational efficiency and collaboration across teams. Leverage Generative AI and cloud technologies to solve comp...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$97K - $126K *

Drive system excellence by overseeing installation, configuration, and maintenance of operating systems and servers, ensuring optimal performance and security while supporting business needs and compl...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$95K - $115K *

Join us to lead implementation projects for Deposit Solutions, ensuring client readiness and successful outcomes. Collaborate with clients and internal teams to translate business needs into actionabl...

Iowa, USRemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Take ownership of client implementations for Deposit Solutions, leading projects from kickoff to go-live. Collaborate with clients and internal teams to ensure successful outcomes, aligning business n...

Wisconsin, USRemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Champion security excellence by leading complex Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR implementations. Drive technical enablement projects, mentor engineers, and enhance client security practices in a d...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $200K *

Transform enterprise sales by leading AI-driven solutions for global FS/Banking brands. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive client success and evolve operations, ensuring measurable outco...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$136K - $230K *

Shape the future of federal engagements by delivering expertise in secure GitLab implementations. Collaborate with diverse teams to configure cloud solutions, migrate legacy systems, and ensure compli...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Senior SQL DBA do?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    Experienced Senior SQL DBAs may advance into database architecture, data platform engineering, database management, cloud infrastructure, or broader data infrastructure leadership.