Online Database Management Degree Programs

As our ability to collect and store data increases exponentially, an increase in the demand for qualified database management professionals should grow as well. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that database management is a profession on the brink of incredible expansion. Those with formal career training should enjoy a significant increase in both employment opportunities and salary.

Career Options in Database Management

As a database manager, you collect and organize information for easy access. You may also work to protect data from loss or theft. Duties can include designing reports, updating databases, or acquiring new storage and retrieval tools. You generally work on a computer in an office, interacting daily with company leaders, your staff, and others. Forty-hour work weeks are standard, with some evenings and weekends. Frequent causes of stress may include urgent deadlines, few resources, and many hours at a computer.

Database management professionals belong anywhere a company or organizations collects, sorts, and utilizes customer data. Common employers of workers in the database management profession include colleges and universities, non-profits, franchises, and school districts.

Employment Outlook and Salary Potential

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the computer scientist and database administrator occupations are projected to increase by 37 percent, or 200,000 jobs, through 2016. Opportunities should arise from the trend of companies to adapt and utilize new technologies for storing data.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports competitive salaries for those with database management degrees. In 2007, database administrators earned a median annual salary of $67,250. Some of the top employers of database administrators include:

• Computer and systems design companies
• Colleges and universities
• Insurance companies
• Merchant wholesalers

The U.S. Bureau of Labor also reports that the highest paying database administration jobs can be found in the following industries:

• Rail transportation
• Natural gas distributorships
• Financial investment companies

The highest paying states for graduates include:

• Maryland
• New York
• New Jersey
• Virginia

Database Managers: Required Degrees and Coursework

Employers usually expect their database managers to have a bachelor's degree, while others may prefer a technology-oriented MBA or related master's degree. You can get started by earning an online degree with a database management emphasis. Various degrees are available, from the associate's to the PhD. Coursework may include databases, information systems, hardware, networking, internet, computer languages, business management practices, and more.

Another route to employment is to become certified in a particular proprietary database system that your prospective employer uses. For examples, Cisco and Oracle database are highly-utilized, and students who certify in either should have the decided advantage with companies that rely on these software suites.

Students who complete career training in database management through a distance learning program should benefit from a rich technological component. Not only should you save time and money through the course of your program, but you can enjoy the skills and knowledge you gain that can prepare you for life after graduation.

• Technology
• Information Systems