The median pay for Database Architects is $139,500 a year ($67.07/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 9.4% through 2035, with about 3,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 15-1243
- Computer and Mathematical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Database Architect in four numbers
- Median pay
- $139,500a year, or $67.07/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $86KTop 10% $204K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +9.4%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+9.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +9.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,90069,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202569.5K
- Projected 203576K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 69.5K Projected 2035 76K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Certificate4.8%
- Bachelor's76.2%
- Post-bacc certificate4.8%
- Master's14.3%
Highest education held by database architects Segment Value Certificate 4.8% Bachelor's 76.2% Post-bacc certificate 4.8% Master's 14.3%
Also advertised as: Data Architect, Data Engineer, Data Officer, Database Analyst, Database Architect, Database Consultant.
Pay
How much do Database Architects make?
Every database architect in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$139,500
Middle half earn $109,370 to $169,290
- 10th
- $86,240
- 25th
- $109,370
- 75th
- $169,290
- 90th
- $204,000
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $86,240 |
| 25th | $109,370 |
| Median | $139,500 |
| 75th | $169,290 |
| 90th | $204,000 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $139,500
- Median hourly wage
- $67.07/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $144,440
- People employed
- 67,140
Versus all US occupations
At $139,500, Database Architects earn 174% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $88,520 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
Inside the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580, this is 20% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $204,000 or more while the bottom 10% earn $86,240, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 91% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($170,160), but once local prices are taken into account Virginia leads at $158,609 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Database Architects the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $170,160 | $153,685 | 6,210 |
| 2Massachusetts | $161,650 | $152,850 | 2,690 |
| 3Virginia | $160,360 | $158,609 | 5,260 |
| 4Arizona | $156,100 | $155,050 | 1,200 |
| 5Colorado | $154,560 | $149,983 | 1,950 |
| 6Texas | $151,370 | $155,960 | 8,270 |
| 7District of Columbia | $150,010 | $136,496 | 790 |
| 8Delaware | $147,800 | $148,084 | N/A |
| 9Connecticut | $144,460 | $139,427 | 1,140 |
| 10Illinois | $142,500 | $142,560 | 1,590 |
Job outlook
Is Database Architect a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +9.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Database Architects | +9.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Database Architects to change 9.4% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.7× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 6,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,900 openings are projected each year, 5.6% of the 69,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of database administrators and architects is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of database administrators and architects varies by occupation. (See table.)
Database administrators and architects will be needed to organize and present information to stakeholders in a user-friendly format.
Getting in
How to become a Database Architect
Database administrators (DBAs) and architects typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as database architects.
- Bachelor's Degree76.2%
- Master's Degree14.3%
- Post-Secondary Certificate4.8%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate4.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 76.2% |
| Master's Degree | 14.3% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 4.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Database Architect do?
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.
Database administrators and architects create or organize systems to store and secure a variety of data, such as financial information and customer shipping records. They also make sure that the data are available to authorized users.
Day-to-day tasks
- Develop and document database architectures.
- Collaborate with system architects, software architects, design analysts, and others to understand business or industry requirements.
- Develop database architectural strategies at the modeling, design and implementation stages to address business or industry requirements.
- Design databases to support business applications, ensuring system scalability, security, performance, and reliability.
- Develop data models for applications, metadata tables, views or related database structures.
- Design database applications, such as interfaces, data transfer mechanisms, global temporary tables, data partitions, and function-based indexes to enable efficient access of the generic database structure.
- Develop methods for integrating different products so they work properly together, such as customizing commercial databases to fit specific needs.
- Create and enforce database development standards.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most database administrators and architects work full time.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where database architects work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Computer systems design and related services14%
- Finance and insurance12%
- Educational services; state, local, and private11%
- Information8%
- Management of companies and enterprises7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Computer systems design and related services | 14% |
| Finance and insurance | 12% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 11% |
| Information | 8% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 7% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Listening3.5
- Speaking3.5
- Active Learning3.3
- Writing3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Mathematics3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Systems Analysis3.8
- Programming3.4
- Systems Evaluation3.3
- Operations Analysis3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Coordination3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.8 |
| Programming | 3.4 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Application server software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Cloud-based management software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Configuration management software · in demand
- Content workflow software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base reporting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Data mining software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Database Architect?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Database Architect |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Conventional6.1
- Investigative5.6
- Enterprising2.7
- Realistic2.6
- Artistic2.2
- Social1.9
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Database Architect
O*NET related occupations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
More computer and mathematical careers
Median annual pay, with database architects highlighted
- Database Architect$139,500
- Software Developer$135,980
- Actuary$130,000
- Data Scientist$120,230
- Business Intelligence Analyst$120,230
- Database Administrator$104,620
- Web Designer$104,000
- Computer Programmer$100,390
- Web Developer$92,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Database Architect | $139,500 |
| Software Developer | $135,980 |
| Actuary | $130,000 |
| Data Scientist | $120,230 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | $120,230 |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 |
| Web Designer | $104,000 |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 |
| Web Developer | $92,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Database Architect appears on
Questions
Database Architect: frequently asked questions
How much do Database Architects make?
Database Architects earn a median of $139,500 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 174% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $67.07/hr. The middle half earn between $109,370 and $169,290. The top 10% earn $204,000 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Database Architect?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Database Architects, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 76.2% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Database Architect a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 9.4% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Database Architect do?
Database administrators and architects create or organize systems to store and secure a variety of data, such as financial information and customer shipping records. A core O*NET task: develop and document database architectures. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Database Architects the most?
The highest state medians for Database Architects are California ($170,160), Massachusetts ($161,650), Virginia ($160,360) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Virginia moves to the top at $158,609.
What personality type suits a Database Architect?
O*NET scores Database Architects highest on the Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, INTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.