DBA- Database Administrator

A DBA is a Database Administrator, and this is the most common job that you find a database specialist doing. There are Development DBAs and Production DBAs. A Development DBA usually works closely with a team of developers and gets more involved in design decisions, giving advice on performance and writing good SQL. That can be satisfying at a human level because you are part of a team and you share the satisfaction of the team's accomplishments. A Production DBA (on the other hand) is responsible for maintaining Databases within an organisation, so it is a very difficult and demanding job. He or she, often gets involved when all the design decisions have been made, and has simply to keep things up and running. Therefore, of course, it is also a rewarding job, both financially and in terms of job satisfaction. But it's a more 'lonely' job than being a Development DBA.
Production DBA", with skills covering all the "core" aspects of managing and safeguarding a company's databases and data, including such as backups and restores, securing data, performance tuning and troubleshooting, monitoring, auditing and so on. Alongside the Production DBA, is the Development DBA, who tends to look after the development and test databases, and is expert in all aspects of T-SQL.

Production DBA", with skills covering all the "core" aspects of managing and safeguarding a company's databases and data, including such as backups and restores, securing data, performance tuning and troubleshooting, monitoring, auditing and so on. Alongside the Production DBA, is the Development DBA, who tends to look after the development and test databases, and is expert in all aspects of T-SQL.
Exceptional DBA.
there are many other areas in which the Exceptional DBA can and should specialize. Some of these niches, such as "database design specialist", are well-established, but others, such as "reporting / business intelligence specialist", or "high availability specialist" are newer and in increasing demand.
I would suggest that any Exceptional DBA needs:
Sound knowledge of all "core" aspects of a DBA's job
Inside-out knowledge of one chosen specialist area
Adaptability.
There are many SQL Server DBAs with an intimate knowledge of how SQL Server works, the operating system, hardware and so on. They have the skills to keep a production system running without a hitch.
It is no longer enough.
As a DBA, you must communicate effectively. Communication does not just mean talking to your team members and boss. It includes writing effective emails, status reports, check lists, documentation, presentations and database diagrams. Even that is no longer enough; you must ensure that the company, as a whole, understands what you are doing and how your work contributes to the business.
A "good" DBA should have the ability, knowledge, and tenacity to quickly find out those things (s)he may not know and apply them correctly.
"exceptional" DBA must also know the business climate and how business requirements may or may not affect the server.