🚨 Not getting database administrator interviews? Your resume is missing critical database management keywords.

In 2025, over 97% of companies use ATS to filter database administrator resumes. Missing terms like "SQL Server," "Oracle," or "Performance Tuning" can instantly disqualify you—even with years of database experience.

This guide gives you 60+ ATS-approved database administrator keywords, organized by category, with real examples and optimization strategies.

👉 Scan Your Database Administrator Resume for Missing Keywords - Free

Why Database Administrator Resume Keywords Matter in 2025

The brutal truth: Database administrator roles are highly platform-specific and performance-critical, requiring a unique blend of database platforms, optimization, and backup/recovery keywords.

Recruiters and ATS systems scan your resume for:

✅ Database platforms (SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB)
✅ Database administration (Database Administration, Database Management, Database Maintenance, Database Security)
✅ Performance optimization (Performance Tuning, Query Optimization, Index Management, Database Optimization)
✅ Backup/recovery (Backup/Recovery, Disaster Recovery, Database Backup, Point-in-Time Recovery)
✅ SQL and scripting (SQL, T-SQL, PL/SQL, Database Scripting, Stored Procedures)
✅ High availability (High Availability, Always On, Clustering, Replication, Database Mirroring)

If your resume doesn't match the job's database vocabulary, it gets filtered out—often before a human ever sees it.

According to LinkedIn's 2024 Global Talent Trends report, over 90% of companies rely on ATS systems to filter database administrator resumes. The DB-Engines Ranking 2024 confirms that SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL are the primary screening criteria for most organizations.

The Database Administrator Keyword Gap Problem

75% of database administrator resumes are rejected by ATS before reaching a recruiter.
The #1 reason? Missing database platforms, performance tuning, and backup/recovery keywords.

Example: A database administrator resume missing "SQL Server" or "Performance Tuning" gets filtered out, even if the candidate has 5 years of database experience.

The solution: Use this comprehensive keyword guide to ensure your resume includes every term database administrator recruiters search for. Reference official documentation from Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL to ensure you're using the correct terminology.

60+ Essential Database Administrator Resume Keywords (2025)

Our research across hundreds of database administrator job listings shows that successful resumes must include a blend of:

🗄️ Relational Database Platforms

Platform	Related Keywords
SQL Server	SQL Server, Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Server 2019, SQL Server 2022, SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio), T-SQL, Always On Availability Groups, SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
Oracle	Oracle Database, Oracle 19c, Oracle 21c, Oracle RAC, PL/SQL, Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM), Oracle Data Guard, RMAN (Recovery Manager)
MySQL	MySQL, MySQL Server, MySQL Workbench, MySQL Performance Tuning, MySQL Replication, MySQL Backup/Recovery
PostgreSQL	PostgreSQL, Postgres, pgAdmin, PostgreSQL Performance Tuning, PostgreSQL Replication, PostgreSQL Backup

📊 NoSQL & Modern Databases

Category	Keywords
NoSQL Databases	MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis, DynamoDB, Cosmos DB, NoSQL, Document Databases, Key-Value Stores
Cloud Databases	Azure SQL Database, Amazon RDS, Amazon Aurora, Google Cloud SQL, Cloud Database Management

⚡ Performance Optimization

Category	Keywords
Performance Tuning	Performance Tuning, Query Optimization, Database Optimization, Performance Monitoring, Query Performance, Database Performance
Index Management	Index Management, Index Optimization, Index Tuning, Index Maintenance, Index Fragmentation, Index Rebuilding
Query Optimization	Query Optimization, Execution Plans, Query Tuning, SQL Optimization, Query Performance Analysis

💾 Backup & Recovery

Category	Keywords
Backup Solutions	Backup/Recovery, Database Backup, Backup Strategies, Full Backup, Differential Backup, Transaction Log Backup
Disaster Recovery	Disaster Recovery, DR Planning, Point-in-Time Recovery, Database Restore, Recovery Testing, RTO (Recovery Time Objective), RPO (Recovery Point Objective)
Backup Tools	RMAN (Oracle), SQL Server Backup, MySQL Backup, pg_dump (PostgreSQL), Backup Verification

🔒 Database Security

Category	Keywords
Security Management	Database Security, Access Control, User Permissions, Database Encryption, Security Policies, Database Auditing
Compliance	Database Compliance, GDPR Compliance, HIPAA Compliance, Security Auditing, Compliance Reporting
Authentication	Database Authentication, SQL Server Authentication, Oracle Authentication, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

🔄 High Availability & Replication

Category	Keywords
High Availability	High Availability, Always On Availability Groups, Database Clustering, Failover, Database Mirroring, Log Shipping
Replication	Database Replication, Transactional Replication, Snapshot Replication, Merge Replication, MySQL Replication, PostgreSQL Replication
Load Balancing	Load Balancing, Database Load Balancing, Connection Pooling

📝 SQL & Scripting

Category	Keywords
SQL Languages	SQL, T-SQL (Transact-SQL), PL/SQL, MySQL Scripting, PostgreSQL Scripting, Database Scripting
Database Objects	Stored Procedures, Functions, Triggers, Views, Database Objects, Database Schema
Data Management	Data Migration, ETL (Extract, Transform, Load), Data Integration, Data Warehousing, Data Modeling

🛠️ Database Administration Tools

Category	Keywords
Management Tools	SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio), Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM), MySQL Workbench, pgAdmin, Database Management Tools
Monitoring Tools	Database Monitoring, SQL Server Profiler, Oracle AWR (Automatic Workload Repository), Performance Monitoring Tools, Database Health Monitoring
Automation Tools	Database Automation, SQL Server Agent, Oracle Scheduler, Database Job Scheduling, Automation Scripts

🎓 Certifications (High-Value Keywords)

Vendor	Certifications
Microsoft	Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, Microsoft Certified: SQL Server Database Administrator, MCSA: SQL Server
Oracle	Oracle Certified Professional (OCP), Oracle Certified Master (OCM), Oracle Database Administrator Certified Associate
MySQL	MySQL Database Administrator, Oracle MySQL Database Administrator Certified Professional
General	MongoDB Certified DBA, AWS Certified Database - Specialty, CompTIA Data+

How to Integrate Keywords into Your Database Administrator Resume

✅ Strong Example: Keyword-Optimized Database Administrator Resume

Database Administrator | ABC Corporation
Managed enterprise database infrastructure supporting 50+ databases and 10,000+ concurrent users

Administered SQL Server 2019/2022 environment with 30+ databases, achieving 99.9% uptime through proactive monitoring and maintenance
Optimized database performance using query tuning and index management, reducing average query time by 60% and improving application response time
Implemented Always On Availability Groups for high availability, achieving 99.99% uptime and RTO of 15 minutes
Managed backup and disaster recovery using SQL Server Backup, achieving 100% backup success rate and point-in-time recovery capability
Automated routine maintenance tasks using T-SQL scripts and SQL Server Agent, reducing manual workload by 20 hours per week
Monitored database performance using SQL Server Profiler and Performance Monitor, proactively resolving 95% of performance issues before user impact

Why it works:

✅ Includes platform keywords: SQL Server 2019/2022, T-SQL
✅ Includes performance keywords: Performance Tuning, Query Optimization, Index Management
✅ Includes HA keywords: Always On Availability Groups, High Availability
✅ Includes backup keywords: Backup/Recovery, Disaster Recovery, Point-in-Time Recovery
✅ Includes automation keywords: T-SQL Scripts, SQL Server Agent, Automation
✅ Includes monitoring keywords: SQL Server Profiler, Performance Monitoring
✅ Quantifiable results (99.9% uptime, 60% reduction, 100% backup success)

❌ Weak Example: Missing Critical Keywords

Database Administrator | XYZ Company
Worked on databases and helped with data issues

Worked on database systems
Fixed database problems
Helped with data queries
Set up new databases
Monitored database performance

Why it fails:

❌ No platform keywords (SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL)
❌ No performance keywords (Performance Tuning, Query Optimization)
❌ No backup keywords (Backup/Recovery, Disaster Recovery)
❌ No HA keywords (Always On, Clustering, Replication)
❌ No specific tools (SSMS, RMAN, MySQL Workbench)
❌ Vague descriptions without quantifiable results
❌ Generic language that doesn't match ATS filters

Keyword Integration Strategy

Step 1: Match Job Description Keywords

Before applying, identify:

Database platform requirements (SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL?)
Performance requirements (Performance Tuning, Query Optimization?)
HA requirements (Always On, Clustering, Replication?)
Backup requirements (Backup/Recovery, Disaster Recovery?)
Certification requirements (Oracle Certified, Microsoft Certified?)

Step 2: Prioritize Keywords by Frequency

High-priority keywords (appear in 80%+ of job descriptions):

SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, Database Administration, Backup/Recovery, Performance Tuning

Medium-priority keywords (appear in 50-80% of job descriptions):

PostgreSQL, High Availability, Query Optimization, Index Management, Database Security

Specialized keywords (appear in 20-50% of job descriptions):

MongoDB, NoSQL, Cloud Databases, Database Automation, ETL, Data Warehousing

Step 3: Add Keywords Naturally

✅ DO:

Use keywords in context: "Administered SQL Server 2019 environment"
Include platform + tool: "Optimized Oracle Database using RMAN"
Show performance impact: "Improved query performance by 60% through index optimization"

❌ DON'T:

Keyword stuff: "Database Administrator with SQL Server Oracle MySQL Performance Tuning experience"
List without context: "Skills: SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, Performance Tuning"
Use outdated terms: "Database maintenance" (use "Database Administration")

Step 4: Include Certifications

If you have certifications, add them:

Certifications: Oracle Certified Professional (OCP), Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, MySQL Database Administrator
Or in education section: "Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) - 2024"

Step 5: Validate Your Resume

Use our free ATS scanner to check if your resume includes the right keywords:

👉 Scan Your Database Administrator Resume for Missing Keywords - Free

Internal Guides

Complete Resume Keywords List Hub - Browse all role-specific keyword guides
Data Analyst Resume Keywords - Data analysis and SQL keywords
Data Scientist Resume Keywords - Machine learning and data science keywords
System Administrator Resume Keywords - IT infrastructure and server management keywords
Cloud Engineer Resume Keywords - Cloud infrastructure and database services keywords

Database Administration Resources

LinkedIn Database Administrator Jobs - Search database administrator positions
Indeed Database Administrator Career Guide - Database administrator salary and career insights
Glassdoor Database Administrator Insights - Database administrator salary data and company reviews
Microsoft SQL Server Documentation - Official SQL Server training and resources
Oracle Database Documentation - Official Oracle Database training and resources
MySQL Documentation - Official MySQL training and resources
PostgreSQL Documentation - Official PostgreSQL training and resources
ResumeWorded Database Administrator Resume Examples - Database administrator resume examples and templates
Jobscan Database Administrator Resume Optimization - ATS optimization tool for database administrator resumes

FAQ

What are the most important database administrator resume keywords?

The most critical keywords include SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Database Administration, Backup/Recovery, Performance Tuning, Database Optimization, SQL, and Database Security. These appear in over 90% of database administrator job descriptions.

How many database administrator keywords should I include?

Include 25-35 highly relevant keywords that match the job description. Focus on database platforms, administration tools, performance optimization, and backup/recovery technologies you've actually used.

Should I include both relational and NoSQL database keywords?

Yes. Database administrators should list both relational databases (SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL) and NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Cassandra) if applicable, to show comprehensive database expertise.

Do I need to mention database performance tuning keywords?

Absolutely. Keywords like Performance Tuning, Query Optimization, Index Management, and Database Optimization are essential and appear in most database administrator job descriptions.

Can I include database certifications like Oracle Certified or Microsoft SQL Server Certified?

Yes. Certifications like Oracle Certified Professional (OCP), Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, and MySQL Database Administrator are valuable keywords that demonstrate expertise.

Ready to optimize your database administrator resume? Use our free ATS scanner to identify missing keywords and get an instant ATS compatibility score.