Database Architects Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for database architects in the U.S. is $139,500 ($67.07 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $139,500
- Mean annual wage
- $144,440
- Median hourly wage
- $67.07
- Employment
- 67,140
67,140 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $86,240 | $41.46 |
| 25th percentile | $109,370 | $52.58 |
| Median (50th) | $139,500 | $67.07 |
| 75th percentile | $169,290 | $81.39 |
| 90th percentile | $204,000 | $98.08 |
Highest-paying states for database architects
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $170,160 | 6,210 |
| Massachusetts | $161,650 | 2,690 |
| Virginia | $160,360 | 5,260 |
| Arizona | $156,100 | 1,200 |
| Colorado | $154,560 | 1,950 |
| Texas | $151,370 | 8,270 |
| District of Columbia | $150,010 | 790 |
| Delaware | $147,800 | — |
| Connecticut | $144,460 | 1,140 |
| Illinois | $142,500 | 1,590 |
Lowest-paying states
- Mississippi: $98,420 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $104,070 median annual wage
- Alabama: $105,450 median annual wage
- North Dakota: $109,430 median annual wage
- Montana: $109,990 median annual wage
About this occupation
Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.
Typical tasks
- Collaborate with system architects, software architects, design analysts, and others to understand business or industry requirements.
- Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance.
- Document and communicate database schemas, using accepted notations.
- Develop or maintain archived procedures, procedural codes, or queries for applications.
- Provide technical support to junior staff or clients.
- Establish and calculate optimum values for database parameters, using manuals and calculators.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 9.6% |
| Associate's degree | 7.3% |
| Bachelor's degree | 48.5% |
| Master's degree | 26.4% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 3.2% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.