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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$120K - $145K *

Transform cloud infrastructure for higher education products by designing, building, and operating AWS and Azure environments. Collaborate with teams to enhance reliability, automate processes, and me...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$94K - $130K *

Join a team that's driving security outcomes in DevSecOps Engineering. You'll prioritize the backlog, define features, and collaborate with stakeholders to enhance developer experience while managing...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$180K - $230K *

Transform healthcare data ecosystems as a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, leading platform-specific builds to modernize legacy systems into AI-ready lakehouses while collaborating with client data t...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Engage in the design and management of enterprise endpoint technologies, ensuring security and efficiency across over 1,000 devices. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance endpoint perform...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$150K - $180K *

Drive innovation by leading backend development for high-traffic APIs and microservices. Collaborate across teams to enhance system reliability, scalability, and performance while optimizing cloud cos...

San Francisco, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$140K - $160K *

Shape the future of software development by designing and implementing scalable applications while integrating advanced AI solutions and enhancing system architectures to meet enterprise needs and ens...

Virginia, USRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Drive impactful training as a Databricks Data Engineer, enhancing FEMA's data engineering skills through tailored curriculum and hands-on instruction, while collaborating with stakeholders to achieve...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Empower strategic data initiatives by leading design, development, and analytics projects. Drive data migration, modernize data solutions, and ensure quality standards while collaborating with stakeho...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$170K - $175K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of ITSM modernization, leading the technical implementation of ServiceNow capabilities while collaborating with diverse teams to enhance service management across...

Reston, VARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $180K *

Join a team that's redefining automation in PCB component placement. Lead the charge in developing and maintaining cutting-edge AI solutions, leveraging machine learning and optimization technologies...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$184K - $356K *

Transform data processing architectures by optimizing performance and efficiency. Collaborate with diverse teams to enhance user experiences and drive innovation in hardware-software co-design for cut...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$124K - $145K *

Drive high-level analytical support for U.S. Government trade initiatives, conducting in-depth research on policy, supply chains, and economic security while preparing actionable insights for senior s...

Washington, DCRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$135K - $160K *

Transform infrastructure by designing and building scalable GPU systems for AI cloud platforms, focusing on virtualization, Kubernetes, and automation to enhance performance and reliability across mul...

Bellevue, WARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$70K - $140K *

Unlock potential by managing and enhancing customer relationships through expert engagement and strategic solutions, ensuring satisfaction and driving retention for medium to large commercial accounts...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$110K - $130K *

Drive analytics initiatives that connect Paid Media performance to full-funnel outcomes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design measurement frameworks, optimize data models, and provide act...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$100K - $120K *

Accelerate growth by identifying and qualifying new business opportunities, driving sales in a dynamic environment. Collaborate with a skilled team to promote value across diverse industries and achie...

Florida, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $163K *

Drive impactful relationships and strategies with enterprise customers, ensuring alignment of business goals with technical solutions. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance customer success and op...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $145K *

Shape the future of our loan origination platform by leading an AI-first software engineering team applying C#, .NET, and modern architecture principles to deliver scalable solutions for a large user...

Flowood, MSRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$90K - $110K *

Champion the optimization of learning systems by managing Workday Learning, providing enterprise support, and leading technology projects. Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance governance, complian...

Dallas, TXRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$110K *

Join a dynamic team as a Senior Technical Services Analyst, leveraging your data expertise to deliver complex data migration projects for diverse clients. Drive efficiency through automation and desig...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$105K - $163K *

Transform database environments by leading architecture and administration efforts across multiple platforms, ensuring compliance and performance for mission-critical applications in a dynamic, remote...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $179K *

Lead complex engagements and establish strategic relationships while mentoring teams and driving solutions in high-stakes Public Sector environments. Shape account strategy and deliver measurable impa...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$105K - $231K *

Optimize enterprise analytics solutions to provide real-time insights and reporting for federal HR stakeholders, driving strategic decision-making and compliance in a fast-paced modernization initiati...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $145K *

Innovate solutions as a Senior ServiceNow Developer by delivering complex platform engineering support, enhancing integrations, and improving automation. Collaborate on enterprise-level applications w...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$110K - $130K *

Transform critical power systems by overseeing installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of backup generators in data centers, ensuring uninterrupted power supply and optimal uptime for mission-c...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

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.