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Cybersecurity Analyst vs Database Administrators: what changes?

Consider Cybersecurity Analyst if you want to plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Consider Database Administrators if you would rather administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Cybersecurity Analyst (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Cybersecurity Analyst and Database Administrators. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Cybersecurity Analyst

National median pay (2025)
$129,180
Route into the job
Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience
Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing
BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate
Develop plans to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure and to meet emergency data processing needs.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
14,100
Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Cybersecurity Analyst brief

Database Administrators

National median pay (2025)
$104,620
Route into the job
Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate
Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
3,300
Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 0.1% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Database Administrators brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Cybersecurity Analyst has the edge on projected growth

Cybersecurity Analyst is at 21% projected growth, compared with -0.1% projected growth for Database Administrators.

2

Cybersecurity Analyst has the edge on annual openings

Cybersecurity Analyst is at 14,100 annual openings, compared with 3,300 annual openings for Database Administrators.

3

Cybersecurity Analyst has the edge on median pay

Cybersecurity Analyst is at $129,180, compared with $104,620 for Database Administrators.

77.9/ 100

Cybersecurity Analyst

vs
49.3/ 100

Database Administrators

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Cybersecurity Analyst vs Database Administrators

DimensionCybersecurity AnalystDatabase Administrators
Median pay (2025)$129,180$104,620
Pay percentile91.8 percentile85.6 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)21%-0.1%
Annual openings (2025–2035)14,1003,300
2025 employment192,90075,000
How you qualifyBachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 yearsBachelor's degree
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 4Job Zone 4
Related work experiencePrior related experience: less than 5 years.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingBLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Cybersecurity Analyst briefRead Database Administrators brief

Try another comparison

Cybersecurity Analyst vs Software Developer

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Cybersecurity Analyst
$129,180 · 21% growth
Software Developer
$135,980 · 10.2% growth
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Cybersecurity Analyst vs Data Scientist

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Cybersecurity Analyst
$129,180 · 21% growth
Data Scientist
$120,230 · 34.6% growth
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Database Administrators vs Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Database Administrators
$104,620 · -0.1% growth
Network and Computer Systems Administrators
$99,130 · -4.1% growth
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Database Administrators vs Computer Programmers

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Database Administrators
$104,620 · -0.1% growth
Computer Programmers
$100,390 · -7.3% growth
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ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.