What Does A Database Manager Do? (With Skills And Salary)

A database manager is an IT professional who manages, develops and maintains a company's data storage methods, databases and database retrieval systems. Database managers ensure the safety of a company's information by implementing security programs. If you have a passion for safeguarding a company's information and managing its database, it might be the right career choice for you. In this article, we answer “what does a database manager do?”, explore their average salary, understand their key skills and outline the steps required to become a successful database manager.

Related: What Is A Database Administrator? (With Skills, Salary And FAQs)

What Does A Database Manager Do?

Apart from overseeing the storage of information in a system, database managers keep up with database design and application development. These professionals include the ability to back up, restore, attach, create, clone, rename and delete the databases. Some of their day-to-day activities are:

• Creating new databases, upgrading the existing ones and performing maintenance on databases

• Maintaining database results by enforcing controls and standards

• Monitoring database efficiency

• Designing and preparing reports for management

• Ensuring a company's data remains protected from online frauds, breaches and attacks

• Choosing different security programs to select one that best fits your organisational needs

• Meeting with analysts and company managers to understand the database requirement

• Developing emergency data access plans and testing them to ensure they are reliable and efficient

• Manipulating data to organise data sets into retrievable categories

• Providing training to colleagues regarding what to input and extract data from a database

• Designing various protocols for data processing

• Participating in database design, application and disaster recovery

• Granting database access to employees to complete their job-specific duties

• Hiring and training new database professionals

• Creating job descriptions for hiring potential candidates

• Understanding different database languages, data manipulation, data control, data definition and transaction control languages

Average Salary Of A Database Manager

The average salary of a database manager is ₹34,639 per month. Their exact salary depends upon the employer, experience, qualification and job location. Usually, some cities pay a higher salary than others. For instance, the average salary of a database manager in Bengaluru is ₹36,528 per month and the average salary in Mumbai is ₹28,578 per month.

Skills Of A Database Manager

A database manager requires both technical and soft skills to excel at their workplace. Some of the key skills an employer looks for in potential candidates are:

Technical skills

Some technical skills to master are:

Proficiency in SQL

SQL is a common database language widely used by database professionals and software developers. A database manager uses SQL to manipulate company databases. Employers prefer candidates with proficiency and in-depth knowledge of various SQL queries as it helps in effective database management.

Related: What Is SQL? Definition And Benefits

Proficiency in database management

Employers prefer candidates who can navigate through database software. This involves the ability to understand how to locate records and use other database software functions. Proficiency in database management also includes using reports and built-in forms in a database. Database management also includes writing queries using tools and copying data in spreadsheet software for analysis. Also, you require a thorough understanding of how different database components relate to each other.

Related: What Are The Different Database Types?

Expertise in database management systems

An organisation uses database management systems to retrieve data stored, update and add data to a database. These database management systems make a database secure, allow multiple user access and make it easier for employees to access information. So, employers prefer candidates who have expertise in different database management systems, namely hierarchical, network, object-oriented and relational.

Soft skills

Some soft skills required for this job role are:

Analytical skills

Database managers perform maintenance on databases and troubleshoot problems with a new database management system. They require excellent analytical skills to understand the cause of a problem. Using their analytical mind, these professionals closely study the problem and act upon multiple sources' information to find a viable solution.

Attention to details

Working with databases requires knowledge of complex computer systems and a slight error can cause major database-related issues, like loss or theft of sensitive information. Employers prefer candidates who pay attention to details as it helps in catching potential issues with a database. Being attentive helps these managers to identify data points to organise in a database.

Communication skills

Database managers require excellent communication skills to interact with managers, analysts and other technical professionals to understand their database requirements. These professionals usually work as a part of an IT team and require verbal communication skills to interact with colleagues. They may use this skill set to explain technical concepts to someone from a non-IT background.

Problem-solving

Often, a database manager receives requests to retrieve lost information or data and may deal with cybersecurity breaches. These professionals require problem-solving skills to identify the source of the problem to ensure no one repeats the same mistake. Using their problem-solving skills, a database manager can develop viable and practical solutions in a short time frame.

Leadership skills

As these professionals oversee the maintenance work performed by a database team, they require excellent leadership qualities. They communicate the database security requirement to the IT team and ensure the implementation of cybersecurity measures before a data breach occurs. Employers prefer professionals who can lead a team of professionals and ensure the completion of all activities on time.

How To Become A Database Manager

For becoming a database manager, focus on these steps:

1. Complete your 10+2

The starting step to becoming a database manager is completing your 10+2 in the science stream. For ensuring a faster career path, consider choosing computer science as an elective in your 10+2. This can build a foundation of different programming languages and databases.

2. Earn a bachelor's degree

You can pursue a four-year computer science or information technology engineering. You have the choice to opt for a three-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) in computer and related fields. These programs teach database programming, coding, computer and system architecture, software development, database management practices and network fundamentals.

3. Complete an internship

Pursue an internship during your bachelor's degree to gain some hands-on experience in database management. Internships are a great way to learn and can help you market your skills during a job interview. Getting an internship in the database management field can increase your chances of getting hired in a similar role after graduation.

4. Earn a database certification

Having in-depth knowledge about database management is essential for a rewarding career. So, earning a database certification can improve your skill set and make you suitable for a database manager's job. Certification shows a potential employer that you have a commitment to learning and continuing your education. It also showcases your proficiency in database management. So, consider a certification in database languages like structured query language (SQL), database administration and database management. Some popular certifications to pursue are:

• IBM Certified Database Administrator

• Microsoft SQL Server database certification

• SAP HANA

5. Gain experience

Employers prefer hiring candidates with one to two years of experience in database administration, development or management. So, look for a job after completing your graduation. Start your career by working as a SQL database developer, junior database developer, database administrator or database assistant.

6. Pursue a master's degree

Though most employers prefer hiring database managers with an undergraduate degree, you can pursue a master's degree in a related field to increase your employability and enhance your salary. Many candidates pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in IT to fulfil all job-related duties. A master's program usually takes two years to complete.

7. Apply for jobs in industries of your interest

Many industries employ database managers to digitise and maintain a company's sensitive data in a database. Some common industries employing a database manager are hospitality, education, IT, insurance, marketing, business and finance and data processing. So, based upon your area of interest, apply to jobs in the relevant sector and industry.

8. Create your CV and apply for a job

Create a CV enlisting your skills, experience, qualification and certifications. When writing your CV, read the job description and identify keywords from the job description and use them in your CV. These keywords in your CV help an employer determine if you have the professional skill and qualification for the job role. Upload your CV on job boards to apply for a database manager's job.

Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.