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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$109K - $167K *

Lead the charge in designing and operating high-quality data products. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure data integrity, implement engineering standards, and mentor engineers to foster...

Nebraska, USRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$120K - $145K *

Shape the future of endpoint management by crafting secure, high-performance software solutions in C# and .NET. Collaborate on architectural design and drive the delivery of innovative product capabil...

Dallas, TXRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$90K - $110K *

Empower federal clients by developing robust, innovative .NET applications. Join a dynamic team to transform requirements into efficient solutions while ensuring compliance with public trust clearance...

Washington, DCRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$120K - $145K *

Unlock your potential as a Senior Cybersecurity Pre-Sales Technical Architect, driving strategic security solutions and fostering relationships with key stakeholders to enhance business development in...

Lisle, ILRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $165K *

Lead the charge in designing and scaling foundational APIs and backend services, optimizing cloud data stores, and ensuring high-availability for a robust platform. Elevate technical standards while s...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$250K - $280K *

Unlock potential by leading the design and implementation of high-performance brokerage systems. Collaborate with teams to enhance trading platforms, define specifications, and ensure robust software...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$75K - $100K *

Join the charge in supporting our enterprise IT environment by managing user identities, deploying applications, and troubleshooting complex issues across hybrid infrastructures. Leverage your experti...

Downers Grove, ILRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$180K - $247K *

Join a team that's driving customer success by leading technical strategies and fostering relationships. Collaborate with sales and engineering to maximize the value of the Databricks platform for com...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$145K - $175K *

Join our team to drive the technical direction of our Internal Developer Platform, enhancing workflows and tooling for engineering teams. You'll lead multi-quarter strategies, ensuring reliable delive...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Media

$100K - $120K *

Drive impactful SEO strategies for B2B SaaS clients, leading strategic conversations and translating complex insights into actionable business recommendations. Join a high-performing team dedicated to...

Toronto, ONRemote

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$80K - $95K *

Drive improvement and reliability in a Federal Agency's ServiceNow platform through effective analysis, testing, and validation strategies, ensuring rapid delivery without compromising quality or secu...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$124K - $170K *

Lead the charge in innovative software solutions for healthcare, collaborating with diverse teams to enhance patient care and meet customer needs through cutting-edge technology and creative problem-s...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Shape data strategy by building and scaling ingestion pipelines and infrastructure to empower teams with reliable, self-serve data products and support AI-ready workflows, directly impacting company-w...

CanadaRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$160K - $200K *

Accelerate progress at our Oil & Gas portfolio by leading cloud transformation initiatives. Drive revenue growth, build strategic relationships, and manage complex engagements with Microsoft and clien...

Houston, TXRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Drive impactful IT project delivery in a multi-site healthcare environment. Lead complex transformations, enhance governance, and foster stakeholder collaboration while ensuring tangible business outc...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$101K - $135K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of healthcare technology by designing and enhancing our build and delivery infrastructure. Collaborate with architects and developers to implement best practices...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $145K *

Drive the future of mainframe engineering by leading z/OS systems programming, managing complex projects, and mentoring teams to ensure high availability and security of infrastructure while collabora...

Atlanta, GARemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$72K - $117K *

Optimize sanctions compliance programs by overseeing frameworks, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring adherence to regulations. Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance governance and deliver spe...

Mount Laurel, NJRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$110K - $130K *

Innovate and implement robust disaster recovery solutions for enterprise DevOps, ensuring critical infrastructure recoverability. Oversee Jenkins, Bitbucket, and JFrog Artifactory environments while e...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$93K - $141K *

Innovate data solutions by building and maintaining robust pipelines that enhance healthcare data products. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure quality and reliability in data delivery...

Framingham, MARemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$188K - $235K *

Develop AI-powered systems from concept to production, collaborating with clients to identify needs, prototype solutions, and ensure quality. Engage closely with users to iterate and enhance product f...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$135K - $160K *

Join us to develop and enhance algorithms for cutting-edge AI solutions. Collaborate with engineers and architects to transform innovative ideas into production-ready code, ensuring high-quality stand...

Cary, NCRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$138K - $218K *

Unlock the potential of data by designing scalable architectures and solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance system efficiency and drive strategic decisions while mentoring junio...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$149K - $240K *

Unlock potential by driving go-to-market strategies for innovative AI products. Collaborate across teams to translate technical capabilities into compelling narratives, ensuring customer success and m...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$120K - $150K *

Partner with us to integrate cybersecurity into business operations, ensuring compliance and risk management while fostering a culture of security awareness across the organization...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise 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.