California Median
$170,160
per year
Hourly Rate
$81.81
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+22% vs US median
US median $139,500
State Rank
#1 of 46
6,210 employed here
How much does a Database Architect make in California?
A Database Architect working in California earns a median salary of $170,160 per year, or about $81.81 per hour. That is 22% above the national median of $139,500 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $101,200 while the top 10% make $227,900 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $132,880 and $203,130 a year.
Database Architect salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $101,200 | $48.65 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $132,880 | $63.88 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $170,160 | $81.81 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $203,130 | $97.66 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $227,900 | $109.57 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 46 states and territories for Database Architect pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Database Architect salary in other states
Massachusetts $161,650Virginia $160,360Arizona $156,100Colorado $154,560Texas $151,370District of Columbia $150,010Delaware $147,800Connecticut $144,460Illinois $142,500New York $141,350Rhode Island $140,320Nevada $140,200New Hampshire $139,990Georgia $139,500Florida $138,320Oregon $138,250Wisconsin $137,810South Dakota $136,540North Carolina $134,630Nebraska $134,320Hawaii $134,040Maine $133,120Minnesota $133,050Maryland $132,940Ohio $132,910Indiana $132,830Utah $131,740Michigan $131,000South Carolina $130,000Kansas $129,990Washington $128,760Kentucky $125,400Iowa $124,040Idaho $121,380New Jersey $120,790New Mexico $117,950Tennessee $115,170Alaska $112,500Missouri $110,570Oklahoma $110,110Montana $109,990North Dakota $109,430Alabama $105,450Arkansas $104,070Mississippi $98,420
Working as a Database Architect in California
Nationally, about 67,000 people work as Database Architects in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($170,160) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Database Architect make in California?
The median Database Architect salary in California is $170,160 per year, or about $81.81 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $101,200 at the entry level to $227,900 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Database Architects about 22% more than the national median of $139,500. California ranks 1st out of 46 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Database Architects?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $170,160 a year. About 6,210 Database Architects are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Database Architect salary report
Related salaries
$134,050
median pay · 180,000 employed
$104,300
median pay · 187,000 employed
$88,940
median pay · 109,000 employed
$104,620
median pay · 70,000 employed
$130,000
median pay · 27,000 employed
$105,650
median pay · 29,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.