Database Architects: salary, outlook & degrees
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.
Middle half $109,370–$169,290. 67,140 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 3,900 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Considerable preparation (usually a bachelor's).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Education workers say the job requires
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers (“required level of education”); small samples, so treat shares as approximate.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| California | $170,160 |
| Massachusetts | $161,650 |
| Virginia | $160,360 |
| Arizona | $156,100 |
| Colorado | $154,560 |
| Texas | $151,370 |
| District of Columbia | $150,010 |
| Delaware | $147,800 |
| Connecticut | $144,460 |
| Illinois | $142,500 |
| New York | $141,350 |
| Rhode Island | $140,320 |
| Nevada | $140,200 |
| New Hampshire | $139,990 |
| Georgia | $139,500 |
| Florida | $138,320 |
| Oregon | $138,250 |
| Wisconsin | $137,810 |
| South Dakota | $136,540 |
| North Carolina | $134,630 |
| Nebraska | $134,320 |
| Hawaii | $134,040 |
| Maine | $133,120 |
| Minnesota | $133,050 |
| Maryland | $132,940 |
| Ohio | $132,910 |
| Indiana | $132,830 |
| Utah | $131,740 |
| Michigan | $131,000 |
| South Carolina | $130,000 |
| Kansas | $129,990 |
| Washington | $128,760 |
| Kentucky | $125,400 |
| Iowa | $124,040 |
| Idaho | $121,380 |
| New Jersey | $120,790 |
| New Mexico | $117,950 |
| Tennessee | $115,170 |
| Alaska | $112,500 |
| Missouri | $110,570 |
| Oklahoma | $110,110 |
| Montana | $109,990 |
| North Dakota | $109,430 |
| Alabama | $105,450 |
| Arkansas | $104,070 |
| Mississippi | $98,420 |
| PR | $95,620 |
Largest metro areas for this job
- New York-Newark-Jersey City NY-NJ$131,540
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV$162,870
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX$154,770
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue WA$105,430
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH$161,650
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell GA$139,500
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont CA$175,860
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia NC-SC$138,870
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CA$155,740
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE-MD$163,590
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial CO$162,640
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN$147,490
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge used
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Mathematics
- English Language
Work styles
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Achievement Orientation
- Cautiousness
People in this job tend to have Conventional (organizing), Investigative (analytical) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Database Architects: questions
How much do database Architects make?
Database Architects earn a U.S. median $139,500 a year; the middle half earn $109,370 to $169,290 (BLS, May 2025).
Is database Architects a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 9.4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,900 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be a database Architect?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree. In O*NET's survey, 95% of workers say a bachelor's or higher is required.
How much do database Architects make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $138,320 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $139,500 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 15-1243. Method
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Cite this: “Database Architects: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/database-architects.