How much does a Database Architect make?
A Database Architect earns a median annual salary of $139,500 in the United States, which works out to roughly $67.07 per hour for full-time work. Most Database Architects earn between $86,240 at the entry level and $204,000 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $109,370 and $169,290 a year.
That is $78,110 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Database Architect salary range by percentile
Half of all Database Architects earn between $109,370 and $169,290 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $86,240 | $41.46 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $109,370 | $52.58 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $139,500 | $67.07 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $169,290 | $81.39 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $204,000 | $98.08 |
Highest-paying states for Database Architect
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Database Architect pay at $170,160 a year, followed by Massachusetts ($161,650) and Virginia ($160,360). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $98,420 — a gap of $71,740 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $170,160 | $81.81 | +22% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $161,650 | $77.72 | +16% |
| 3 | Virginia | $160,360 | $77.10 | +15% |
| 4 | Arizona | $156,100 | $75.05 | +12% |
| 5 | Colorado | $154,560 | $74.31 | +11% |
Database Architect salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 46 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 67,000 people work as Database Architects in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $144,440 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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