Home / Occupation profile / Database & Systems Administrators & ICT Security
Print Print

Database & Systems Administrators & ICT Security

ANZSCO ID 2621

Find Vacancies Opens in a new window

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
63,600
Future Growth
38.9%
Weekly Earnings
$2,342
Full-Time Share
89%
Female Share
21%
Average age
40
About this data

Summary

Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists plan, develop, maintain, manage and administer organisations' database management systems, operating systems and security policies and procedures to ensure optimal database and system integrity, security, backup, reliability and performance.

Tasks

  • designing and maintaining database architecture, data structures, tables, dictionaries and naming conventions to ensure the accuracy and completeness of all data master files

  • performing the operational establishment and preventive maintenance of backups, recovery procedures, and enforcing security and integrity controls

  • implementing and administering database documentation, guidelines, policies and procedures

  • testing database systems and upgrades, such as debugging, tracking, reproduction, logging and resolving all identified problems, according to approved quality testing scripts, procedures and processes

  • accepting responsibility for the processes, procedures and operational management associated with system security and disaster recovery planning

  • liaising with security vendors, suppliers, service providers and external resources; analysing, recommending, installing and maintaining software security applications; and monitoring contractual obligations, performance delivery and service level agreements

  • troubleshooting and providing service support in diagnosing, resolving and repairing server-related hardware and software malfunctions, encompassing workstations and communication infrastructure

  • preparing and maintaining documentation, policies and instructions, and recording and detailing operational procedures and system logs

  • ensuring that the design of computer sites allows all components to fit together and work properly, and monitoring and adjusting the performance of networks

  • continually surveying the current computer site to determine future network needs and making recommendations for enhancements in the implementation of future servers and networks

Characteristics

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:

  • is expected to grow very strongly
  • is likely to reach 104,000 by 2026.

    • Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

    Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.

    Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.

Projected Change
38.9%
(or 29,100 jobs)
From
74,800
in 2021
To
104,000
in 2026

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Year Employment
2011 37,700
2012 33,200
2013 39,100
2014 42,900
2015 40,000
2016 36,800
2017 39,000
2018 47,600
2019 54,600
2020 49,900
2021 74,800
2026 104,000

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 89% of people employed as Database & Systems Administrators & ICT Security work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 23 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 41 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    More than a third of workers regularly work overtime or extra hours (either paid or unpaid).

    Median full-time earnings are $2,342 per week, this is much higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,840
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $2,905

    Median hourly earnings are $62, this is much more than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).

    Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.

Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Earnings Database & Systems Administrators & ICT Security All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 2,342 1,593
Total Earnings 0 0

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.

Industries

Main industries

1
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
32.9%
2
Public Administration and Safety
17.2%
3
Financial and Insurance Services
12.2%
4
Education and Training
7.2%
5
Other industries
30.4%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

33.0% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

28.2% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

15.0% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

5.6% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

8.7% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.4% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.8% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

7.4% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Database & Systems Administrators & ICT Security All Jobs Average
NSW 33.0 31.6
VIC 28.2 25.6
QLD 15.0 20.0
SA 5.6 7.0
WA 8.7 10.8
TAS 1.4 2.0
NT 0.8 1.0
ACT 7.4 1.9


  • Around 82% of Database & Systems Administrators & ICT Security live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.

    The Australian Capital Territory has a large share of employment relative to its population size.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.

Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
40
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
21%
All Jobs Average is 48%

  • The median age of Database and Systems Administrators & ICT Security is 40 years. This is the same as the all jobs average.

    A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.

    Females make up 21% of the workforce. This is 27 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Database & Systems Administrators & ICT Security All Jobs Average
15-19 0.4 5.0
20-24 3.6 9.3
25-34 27.4 22.9
35-44 33.8 22.0
45-54 22.9 21.6
55-59 6.9 9.0
60-64 3.6 6.0
65 and Over 1.4 4.2
Median Age 40 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.

Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

A bachelor or postgraduate degree in a related information technology field (such as database design, network security, systems administration or networking) is usually needed to work as a Database or Systems Administrator, or ICT Security Specialist. Some workers have Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications. There are also a wide range of vendor and industry certifications available that may substitute for formal qualifications.

Visit

  • Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
  • ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Information and Communications Technology VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Database & Systems Administrators & ICT Security All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 18.1 10.1
Bachelor degree 38.3 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 16.2 11.6
Certificate III/IV 9.5 21.1
Year 12 13.8 18.1
Year 11 1.9 4.8
Year 10 and below 2.4 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.

Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Database & Systems Administrators & ICT Security who can communicate clearly, work well in a team and have strong computer literacy.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 63%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 59%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 59%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 57%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 57%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 57%

    Systems evaluation

    Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

  • 55%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 55%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 55%

    Programming

    Writing computer programs.

  • 55%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 55%

    Systems analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.

  • 55%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 54%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 50%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 50%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 48%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

  • 48%

    Operations analysis

    Understanding needs and product requirements to create a design.

  • 46%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 45%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 41%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 74%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 56%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 55%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 54%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • 52%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 50%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 47%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 46%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 46%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 43%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 40%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 39%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 39%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 36%

    Sociology and anthropology

    Group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

  • 33%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 32%

    Philosophy and theology

    Philosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.

  • 32%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 28%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 24%

    Economics and accounting

    Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.

  • 18%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 61%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 59%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 59%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 57%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 57%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 57%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 57%

    Written expression

    Write in a way that people can understand.

  • 55%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 55%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 54%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 54%

    Brainstorming

    Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.

  • 54%

    Originality

    Come up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.

  • 50%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 48%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 48%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 48%

    Mathematics

    Choose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.

  • 45%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 45%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 45%

    Speed of recognition

    Quickly make sense of and organize things you can see like letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 43%

    Visualization

    Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 77%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 76%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 73%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 73%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 72%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 71%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 71%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 69%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 68%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 67%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 64%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 62%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 58%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 56%

    Coming up with systems and processes

    Deciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.

  • 55%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 51%

    Giving expert advice

    Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.

  • 48%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 48%

    Training and teaching others

    Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.

  • 47%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.

  • 42%

    Scheduling work and activities

    Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 100%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 76%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 52%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 48%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 33%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

  • 33%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.

  • 71%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 71%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 67%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 62%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.

  • 52%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 48%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:

  • 100%

    Electronic mail

    Use electronic mail.

  • 99%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 91%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 91%

    Spend time sitting

    Spend time sitting at work.

  • 88%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 88%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 86%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 85%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 80%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 72%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 70%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 70%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 68%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 68%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

  • 67%

    Consequence of error

    Work where mistakes have serious consequences.

  • 66%

    Competition

    Compete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.

  • 64%

    Repeating same tasks

    Repeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.

  • 63%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 61%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

  • 60%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 15-1141.00 - Database Administrators.

Links and downloads

Back to top