Computer and Mathematical Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages O*NET task lead SOC 15-1243

Database Architects

O*NET task statements lead this Database Architects card before OEWS pay; neighboring titles include Computer and Information Research Scientists, Web Developers, Computer Systems Analysts, Software Developers.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Database Architects: Computer and Information Research Scientists ($140K) , Web Developers ($93K) , Computer Systems Analysts ($106K) , Software Developers ($136K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Database Architects publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 15-1243 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Develop and document database architectures
  2. 2. Collaborate with system architects, software architects, design analysts, and others to understand business or industry requirements
  3. 3. Develop database architectural strategies at the modeling, design and implementation stages to address business or industry requirements
  4. 4. Design databases to support business applications, ensuring system scalability, security, performance, and reliability
  5. 5. Develop data models for applications, metadata tables, views or related database structures
  6. 6. Design database applications, such as interfaces, data transfer mechanisms, global temporary tables, data partitions, and function-based…
  7. 7. Develop methods for integrating different products so they work properly together, such as customizing commercial databases to fit specif…
  8. 8. Create and enforce database development standards
  9. 9. Document and communicate database schemas, using accepted notations
  10. 10. Develop data model describing data elements and their use, following procedures and using pen, template or computer software
  11. 11. Work as part of a project team to coordinate database development and determine project scope and limitations
  12. 12. Identify and evaluate industry trends in database systems to serve as a source of information and advice for upper management

Database Architects: O*NET ranks Reading Comprehension first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 15-1243 - lead skill Reading Comprehension at 3.9 ; lead knowledge Computers and Electronics. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Reading Comprehension 3.9
  2. 2. Critical Thinking 3.9
  3. 3. Complex Problem Solving 3.9
  4. 4. Judgment and Decision Making 3.9
  5. 5. Systems Analysis 3.8
  6. 6. Active Listening 3.5
  7. 7. Speaking 3.5
  8. 8. Programming 3.4

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Computers and Electronics 4.3
  2. 2. Engineering and Technology 4.0
  3. 3. Design 3.7
  4. 4. Mathematics 3.7
  5. 5. English Language 3.1
  6. 6. Administration and Management 2.9
National median after O*NET task lead
$139,500
/year · 12 published task lines above
Lead task: Develop and document database architectures
$140K
National median
↑ +9%
Growth 2024-2034
4,000
Annual openings
67,140
Estimated US jobs
Computer and Information Research Scientists
Highest-pay peer · $140K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education Bachelor's degree
Related experience Less than 5 years

Top Paying States for Database Architects

1. Texas $151,370
2. Colorado $154,560
3. Arizona $156,100
4. Delaware $147,800
5. Connecticut $144,460
6. Virginia $160,360
7. Massachusetts $161,650
8. California $170,160
9. District of Columbia $150,010
10. Illinois $142,500

Other Computer and Mathematical Occupations titles

  1. 1. Web Developers $92,650
  2. 2. Computer and Information Research Scientists $140,300
  3. 3. Computer Systems Analysts $105,850
  4. 4. Software Developers $135,980
  5. 5. Network and Computer Systems Administrators $99,130
  6. 6. Data Scientists $120,230

O*NET publishes 12 leading task statements for Database Architects (SOC 15-1243). The national OEWS median is $139,500 inside Computer and Mathematical Occupations. Same-group neighbors: Computer and Information Research Scientists, Web Developers, Computer Systems Analysts, Software Developers. Lead published task: Develop and document database architectures.

Employment Projections expect +9% change between 2024 and 2034 (much faster than average vs baseline 3.1%). About 4,000 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry and less than 5 years as the typical related-work-experience category. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Texas at $151,370. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Computer and Information Research Scientists at $140,300. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Database Architects pay-rank #2 in Computer and Mathematical Occupations

Among 21 detailed Computer and Mathematical Occupations with a published OEWS median, Database Architects is pay-rank #2, the upper third of that major group. The order is ROW_NUMBER on national median (title as tiebreak), not a worker-level percentile.

Other upper-third titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

SOC 15-1243 · national median $139,500 · upper third of Computer and Mathematical Occupations (#2/21). Open the full OEWS map or a named state before treating the card median as a local ask.

Database Architects salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 15-1243

Texas · top state for Database Architects

$151K published median

Colorado · #2 state pay

$155K · behind Texas

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Highest-pay peer vs Database Architects · $140K

Web Developers

Lower-pay peer beside Database Architects · $93K

Compare Database Architects

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Database Architects with another occupation →

Role and task next reads

Database Architects full salary map

State and metro OEWS after the task lead

Compare tasks and pay

Side-by-side with another occupation

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Computer and Mathematical Occupations titles sit near Database Architects at the top of the pay table? ▼
Database Architects is pay-rank #2 of 21 detailed Computer and Mathematical Occupations with an OEWS median, upper third. Nearest upper-third titles: Computer and Information Research Scientists ($140K), Software Developers ($136K), Computer Network Architects ($134K), Actuaries ($130K). Rank is ROW_NUMBER on national median.
What do database architects do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Database Architects. Leading ones include: 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. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for database architects? ▼
For SOC 15-1243, O*NET importance scores lead with Reading Comprehension (3.9), Critical Thinking (3.9), Complex Problem Solving (3.9), Judgment and Decision Making (3.9). Knowledge areas emphasize Computers and Electronics, Engineering and Technology, Design. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
What is the OEWS national median for Database Architects? ▼
May 2025 OEWS reports $139,500 as the national median for Database Architects. The published 10th-90th range is $86,240 to $204,000. Beside Computer and Information Research Scientists ($140,300), this is the occupation-level national figure, not a local offer.
What employment change does BLS publish for Database Architects? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Database Architects is +9%. Projected annual openings: about 4,000. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: much faster than average.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Database Architects? ▼
BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Database Architects. Related-work-experience category: less than 5 years. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Database Architects? ▼
Texas ($151,370), Colorado ($154,560), Arizona ($156,100) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Database Architects card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 15-1243. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Database Architects. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics