Technology
Database Architects
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.
Median salary (BLS)
$139,500
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$86k – $204k
Job outlook
+9% (faster than average)
AI exposure
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one wage for this occupational group, which covers 2 related roles — so read the median as an approximate group figure, and the range as the truer picture for this specific title. BLS source.
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $109,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Database Architects
Education
Typical entry: Bachelor's degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Database Architects Intern
Internship
$43,120
~4 mos to advance
Junior Database Architects
Entry / Junior
$86,240
~2 yrs to advance
Database Architects
Established
$139,500
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Database Architects
Senior
$171,750
Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.
Key skills
A typical day
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Technology
Explore all- Massachusetts Institute of Technology4% admit · $124,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- Carnegie Mellon University11% admit · $109,000 grad pay
- University of California, Berkeley11% admit · $97,000 grad pay
- Georgia Institute of Technology16% admit · $99,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.