Think your DBA job pays well? Not as good as some database administrators, according to a research study sponsored by Ntirety and produced by Unisphere Research. One hint: it's all about location, location, location.The market study released this week entitled "What Data Professionals Earn," shows close to 30% of database administrators who oversee the operational aspects of database sites now receive six-figure incomes for their work. The largest segment, 47%, reported making base salaries of between $80,000 and $100,000. Additionally, developer and analyst salaries typically fall around the $75,000 range. IT managers' salaries are close to $100,000, and more than a third have topped this level.

The study was released by the Independent Oracle Users Group (IOUG) in advance of the four-day Oracle OpenWorld show starting September 21 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. So, hint hint... the IOUG is obviously excited that Oracle DBAs are well paid.

"This study substantiates how critical database and technology professionals are to the business and what affects our members' salaries in a very positive way," Ian Abramson, IOUG president said in a statement.

The data is a result of 503 responses that were collected from the IOUG membership. The 18-page report tracked the salaries of key categories of data professionals and managers, and found that size, location and certification can make a difference.

Some of the factors that affected six-figure salary attainment included size of organization, level of experience, complexity of the technology environment and geographic location:

• 34% of DBAs reported base incomes exceeding $100,000 among organizations with more than 10,000 employees;
• 40% of DBAs with more than a decade of experience reported salaries exceeding $100,000;
• 44% of DBAs managing large and complex database environments reported earning more than $100,000;
• 44% of DBAs working in the western region (including the Mountain and Pacific states) had annual salaries of more than $100,000.

How does your salary compare to what Oracle DBAs are earning? InformationWeek has just published its own 2008 IT Salary Survey. Download the report here or listen to the free audio version (registration required).