I think the problem is that we don't have any rating of what a senior DBA is. Is it someone that's been a DBA for 7 years? Because it's easy to get to that point without straining your brain to solve problems. Or perhaps because you had a job where not a lot broke.

There are good DBAs out there, but hopefully they're quickly employed. If you find someone that doesn't know this stuff, do you consider them a mid-level DBA and pay them less? Or keep searching?

(moved to employees forum)