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Database architect: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$139,500median pay per year, or $67.07 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $86,240lowest 10% earn less
  2. $109,37025th percentile
  3. $139,500median
  4. $169,29075th percentile
  5. $204,000top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Database architects had a median pay of $139,500 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 9.4% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+9.4%[2]
Openings per year
3,900[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do database architects make?

The median wage for database architects was $139,500 a year, or $67.07 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $144,440 a year, or $69.44 an hour[7]. For all occupations together, the median annual wage was $50,980[4].

The pay range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $86,240 a year, and the 90th percentile was $204,000[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][9] $86,240 $41.46
25th[3][9] $109,370 $52.58
Median[1] $139,500 $67.07
75th[3][9] $169,290 $81.39
90th[3][9] $204,000 $98.08

About 67,140 people held these jobs in May 2025[10]. The figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[11].

Pay by state and city

Among the 45 states and DC with published data, California had the highest median at $170,160[12]. Massachusetts came next at $161,650, then Virginia at $160,360[12].

Texas had the most jobs with 8,270[13]. California had 6,210, Virginia 5,260, North Carolina 4,070 and New York 3,850[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $197,960[14]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA followed at $175,860[14]. The largest metro job counts were in New York-Newark-Jersey City with 5,460 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria with 4,740[15].

Show median pay in 45 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[12]$170,1606,210
Massachusetts$161,6502,690
Virginia$160,3605,260
Arizona$156,1001,200
Colorado$154,5601,950
Texas$151,3708,270
District of Columbia$150,010790
Delaware$147,800n/a
Connecticut$144,4601,140
Illinois$142,5001,590
New York$141,3503,850
Rhode Island$140,320160
Nevada$140,200420
New Hampshire$139,990120
Georgia$139,5002,590
Florida$138,3201,810
Oregon$138,250730
Wisconsin$137,810520
South Dakota$136,54040
North Carolina$134,6304,070
Nebraska$134,320610
Hawaii$134,04060
Maine$133,120190
Minnesota$133,0501,240
Maryland$132,9401,370
Ohio$132,9101,820
Indiana$132,830500
Utah$131,740630
Michigan$131,0001,390
South Carolina$130,0001,160
Kansas$129,990360
Washington$128,7602,990
Kentucky$125,400350
Iowa$124,040240
Idaho$121,380260
New Jersey$120,7903,090
New Mexico$117,950120
Tennessee$115,170650
Alaska$112,50070
Missouri$110,5701,410
Oklahoma$110,110860
Montana$109,990n/a
North Dakota$109,43060
Alabama$105,450270
Arkansas$104,070360
Mississippi$98,420100

How to become a database architect

The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers database administrators and architects together, so they describe a wider group[16].

Employers may ask for certification in the products they use. Certification is offered by software vendors or vendor-neutral providers[20].

In an ONET survey of 21 workers, 76% said a bachelor's degree is required and 14% said a master's degree[21]. ONET places the job in a group that needs considerable preparation[22].

What database architects do

Database architects plan how large databases and data warehouses are built and how they connect to other systems[23]. According to O*NET, common tasks include:

Workers in the O*NET survey reported titles such as Data Architect, Data Engineer and Database Consultant[25]. The profile also says good analytical, communication and detail skills matter, and that a small error in a complex system can cause big problems[26][27][28].

Where they work

In the wider group of database administrators and architects, work happens in nearly all industries. A retailer might need a database of shipping details, and a healthcare provider might need one that protects medical records[29]. The largest single employer group was computer systems design and related services, at 23%[30]. Most in the group work full time[31].

Only 2.1% of database architects were self-employed in 2025[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of database architects to grow 9.4% from 2025 to 2035[2]. That is from about 69,500 to 76,000 jobs, a gain of 6,500[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[33]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

BLS expects about 3,900 openings a year on average[5]. That count includes jobs left open by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 1.8% of workers leave the labor force and 2.7% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with pay well above the all-occupations median of $50,980[4] and a median of $139,500[1]. Growth is projected to run faster than the 3.5% for all occupations[2][33]. The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree, with some related experience[6]. That suits people who are comfortable building complex data systems and working with other technical teams[24][27]. Pay varies by place, so check the state and city figures above[12][14].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a database architect make an hour?
The median was $67.07 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $69.44[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a database architect?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[6]. In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 76% said a bachelor's degree is required[21].
Is database architect a growing job?
BLS projects 9.4% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][33].
What is the highest paying state for database architects?
California had the highest median, $170,160, followed by Massachusetts at $161,650[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Database Architects in the US was $139,500 per year and $67.07 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Database Architects is projected to grow 9.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 69,500 to 76,000 jobs (a change of +6,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Database Architects: 10th percentile $86,240, 25th percentile $109,370, 75th percentile $169,290, 90th percentile $204,000. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,900 openings for Database Architects are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Database Architects: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Database Architects was $144,440 per year and $69.44 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Database Architects: 10th percentile $41.46, 25th percentile $52.58, 75th percentile $81.39, 90th percentile $98.08. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 67,140 people were employed as Database Architects in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Database Architects in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Database Architects jobs: Texas 8,270; California 6,210; Virginia 5,260; North Carolina 4,070; New York 3,850. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Database Architects (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $197,960; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $175,860; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $169,310; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $163,590; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $163,350; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $162,870; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $162,640; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $161,650. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Database Architects jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 5,460 (median $131,540); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 4,740 (median $162,870); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 4,320 (median $154,770); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 2,500 (median $105,430); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 2,120 (median $161,650); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 2,110 (median $139,500). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Database Administrators and Architects" covers Database Architects together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 15-1243.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 76%, Master's Degree 14% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET 15-1243.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Database Architects. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Database Architects. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 15-1243.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Data Architect, Data Engineer, Data Officer, Database Analyst, Database Architect, Database Consultant, Database Developer, Database Programmer. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of database administrators and architects in 2025: Computer systems design and related services 23%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: 2.1% of Database Architects were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Database Architects: 1.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 2.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.