Database Architects Salary: $167,245 Median Pay (2026 stats)
TL;DR
About 64,770 database architects nationally earn a mean of $167,245. Employment in the series shown fell about 4% from the first to the last year; projections imply about 9.5% annual decline.
Key Statistics
Database Architects: what the data shows
Common questions about database architects careers, answered from BLS OEWS and O*NET in this repository.
What is a database architects?
Database Architects is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC 15-1243.
U.S. employment in our OEWS extract is about 64,770 workers.
What does a database architects do?
O*NET work activities rated highest for this occupation include Working with Computers, Analyzing Data or Information, Processing Information, Getting Information, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge, and related tasks. See Work Activities for the full list.
How much does a database architects make?
BLS national median annual wage: $135,980 (May 2024 in our extract).
Mean annual wage in our occupational extract: $167,245 — higher than the median, which often reflects top earners in the distribution.
| Wage percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $91,501 |
| 25th percentile | $128,387 |
| Median (50th) | $163,455 |
| 75th percentile | $193,376 |
| 90th percentile | $232,491 |
What education do you need?
For Database Architects, O*NET incumbent surveys in our extract most often report: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%).
These are education levels of current workers, not minimum legal requirements.
What skills do you need?
O*NET ratings for this occupation emphasize skills such as Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Speaking, and knowledge areas including Computers and Electronics, Engineering and Technology, Design, Mathematics. See Education & Skills for detail.
Is database architects in demand?
Historical employment trend in our series implies about 9.5% annual decline (compound rate in the extract).
Five-year projected employment change: -39.1%.
Ten-year projected employment change: -63.0%.
Current U.S. headcount: 64,770.
We report federal series only—compare wages, growth, and openings against your target market.
Where do database architectss work?
Top industries by employment share in our OEWS industry extract:
| Industry | Employment | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-industry | 64,770 | 19.2% |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | 62,670 | 18.6% |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24,380 | 7.2% |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24,380 | 7.2% |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 16,230 | 4.8% |
| Finance and Insurance | 9,580 | 2.8% |
See Industry for charts.
What degrees lead to this career?
Common majors for Database Architects in O*NET:
See Related degrees.
What careers are related?
Other occupations linked through shared degree pathways in our mapping:
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape Architects | 19,580 | $79,660 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | 111,140 | $96,690 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | 8,440 | $105,670 |
| Computer Network Architects | 177,010 | $130,390 |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | 9,120 | $101,480 |
| Database Administrators | 73,180 | $104,620 |
| Data Entry Keyers | 135,280 | $39,850 |
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Database Architects workforce.
Employment Over Time
64,770 Workforce in 2023
The Database Architects workforce has been growing over time.
Historical employment trends for Database Architects.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$167,245 Average Wage
In 2023, Database Architects earned an average of $167,245.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for Database Architects.
Salary distribution for Database Architects.
Employment Growth Projections
-9.5% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
13,423 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: -39.1%
8,168 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: -63.0%
This occupation is experiencing a decline. Consider related fields with better growth prospects.
Historical employment trends and future projections for Database Architects.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ Database Architects and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of Database Architects employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for Database Architects.
Wage Trends by Industry
3.9% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Historical wage growth trends by industry for Database Architects.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for Database Architects.
Metropolitan employment on this page is from the California OEWS extract. Area names omit state codes; all listed metros are in California, so the state chart shows California totals (not a multi-state ranking).
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- CA: 5,180 employees, $168,348 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Database Architects.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD: 1,200 employees, $152,253 avg wage
- San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD: 980 employees, $191,157 avg wage
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara MSA: 930 employees, $185,611 avg wage
- Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine MD: 530 employees, $163,039 avg wage
- Oakland-Fremont-Berkeley MD: 530 employees, $167,332 avg wage
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA: 390 employees, $156,398 avg wage
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom MSA: 190 employees, $166,002 avg wage
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA: 160 employees, $132,321 avg wage
- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura MSA: 60 employees, $148,016 avg wage
- Bakersfield-Delano MSA: 30 employees, $216,683 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for Database Architects.
Diversity
Demographic information on Database Architects in the US.
Gender and Age
The workforce of Database Architects in 2023 was 64,770 people, with 62.0% women and 38.0% men.
Gender and age distribution for Database Architects.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for Database Architects.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for Database Architects.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by Database Architects in 2023 were Business Administration, Architecture, Engineering.
Common majors for Database Architects.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by Database Architects workers.
Education level distribution for Database Architects.
Skills
Database Architects need many skills, but most especially Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis.
Required skills for Database Architects.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for Database Architects.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for Database Architects include Computers and Electronics, Engineering and Technology, Design, Mathematics, English Language.
Knowledge areas required for Database Architects.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for Database Architects include Written Comprehension, Deductive Reasoning, Oral Comprehension, Inductive Reasoning, Problem Sensitivity.
Required abilities for Database Architects.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by Database Architects.
Daily Activities
Database Architects spend their time on activities such as Working with Computers, Analyzing Data or Information, Processing Information, Getting Information, Making Decisions and Solving Problems.
Most important work activities for Database Architects.
About
Database Architects
The average yearly wage for Database Architects was $167,245 in 2023.
SOC Code
15-1243 - Database Architects
Insights and Analysis
High earnings profile: Database Architects reports an average salary of $167,245, placing it among stronger-paying occupations.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 64,770 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual decline is -9.5%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.