Database Administrator vs Software Engineer
Measured from each occupation's own live postings: mostly different jobs wearing similar names. Posted pay favors the software engineer by about $29k at the midpoint.
The short answer
On pay, software engineers come out ahead by about $29k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $80k–$180k against $77k–$126k for database administrators. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates.
On skills, they are mostly different jobs that happen to share a name or a hallway. The overlap is thin, which is often exactly why people search this pair. The readiness numbers further down say how far a typical profile on each side already reaches into the other, and which direction is the easier move.
Database Administrator
database administrator jobs · database administrator salary · database administrator career guide · careers for database administrators
Software Engineer
software engineer jobs · software engineer salary · software engineer career guide · careers for software engineers
Switching, both directions
The direction matters: software engineer → database administrator reads 39% ready, the reverse only 20%. Skill overlap is not symmetric.
Database Administrator → Software Engineer
What software engineer postings ask for that database administrator profiles usually lack: Full-Stack Development, REST APIs, Java, React.
Software Engineer → Database Administrator
What database administrator postings ask for that software engineer profiles usually lack: Linux, NoSQL, ETL, Data Modeling.
Open database administrator roles
Senior Database Administrator (ClickHouse) at TabbySerbia · RemoteTodayApply- Junior Database Engineer (Microsoft SQL Server & PostgreSQL) (1347) at Bundesamt für Informatik und Telekommunikation BITZollikofen, Bern, Switzerland · Remote1d agoApply
Database Administrator at SteampunkUnited States · Remote$115k–$135k2d agoApply- Database Engineer (w/m) at Leteam Ressources HumainesZürich, Zürich, Switzerland2d agoApply
Open software engineer roles
- Software Engineer - Security Features at DashlaneParisTodayApply
Staff Software Engineer, AI & Recommendations Platform at Hims & HersUSA · RemoteTodayApply
Infrastructure Software Engineer (Kubernetes) at CrestaRomania · RemoteTodayApply
Senior Software Engineer, Product Engineering - UK at AshbyUK · RemoteTodayApply
See the whole board for both
6,448 open roles across the two.
Related comparisons
- Backend Developer vs Software Engineer72% peak overlap
- Mobile Developer vs Software Engineer67% peak overlap
- Data Engineer vs Database Administrator65% peak overlap
- Software Engineer vs Solutions Architect52% peak overlap
- Database Administrator vs Systems Administrator50% peak overlap
- Database Administrator vs Network Engineer49% peak overlap
Which one do your skills favor?
Run the instrument with your own skills and both numbers recompute for you. Free.
Quick answers
Which pays more, database administrator or software engineer?
On pay, software engineers come out ahead by about $29k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $80k–$180k against $77k–$126k for database administrators. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates. By seniority and country: database administrator salary and software engineer salary.
Are database administrator and software engineer the same job?
On skills, they are mostly different jobs that happen to share a name or a hallway. The overlap is thin, which is often exactly why people search this pair.
Can a database administrator become a software engineer?
Yes, and the numbers say how far along you already are: a typical database administrator profile covers 20% of what software engineer postings ask for. The instrument lists the exact skills that make up the rest.
Can a software engineer become a database administrator?
Going the other way, a typical software engineer profile covers 39% of what database administrator postings ask for. The two directions are not symmetric: software engineer to database administrator is the easier move, 39% against 20%.
How many database administrator and software engineer jobs are open right now?
Right now our board has 126 database administrator openings and 6,322 software engineer openings, each linking to the original posting. The board refreshes every night, so the counts move with the market. Hiring the most database administrators at the moment: Direct employer (63), Das Team Ag (3), Coopers Group AG (3). For software engineers: Direct employer (3016), Jobup (94), AgileEngine (40).
Pay is the posted middle half; readiness is how much of the other role’s skill demand a typical profile covers. Refreshed nightly.