Database Specialists

Database specialists work in modern offices, usually located next to the computer room. If they work as consultants, they may travel to client sites as little as once or twice per project or as often as every week. Most duties are performed at a computer at the individual's desk. Travel is occasionally required for conferences and visits to affiliated database locations. Travel requirements vary with employer, client, and level of position held. Database specialists may need to attend numerous meetings, especially during planning stages of a project. Most work regular 40-hour weeks but may put in overtime as deadlines approach. (Twenty percent of database administrators worked more than 40 hours per week in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.) During busy periods, the work can be quite stressful since accuracy is very important. Database specialists must therefore be able to work well under pressure and respond quickly to last-minute changes. Emergencies may also require specialists to work overtime or long hours without a break, sometimes through the night.