Occupations · Computer and Mathematical

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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 15-1243.00

$135,980median annual wage, May 2024

64,770people employed, United States

▲ 8.7%projected change, 2024→2034

4,000openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 10% between 2021 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$188,120	6,710
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$137,290	5,220
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$135,730	2,560
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$135,280	2,390
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$145,300	1,730
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$138,480	1,660
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$170,700	1,540
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$162,310	1,430
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	$150,210	1,380
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$134,900	1,260
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$143,110	1,200
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$128,650	1,130

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: Bachelor's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

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.
Document and communicate database schemas, using accepted notations.
Develop data model describing data elements and their use, following procedures and using pen, template or computer software.
Work as part of a project team to coordinate database development and determine project scope and limitations.
Set up database clusters, backup, or recovery processes.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Reading Comprehension3.9

Critical Thinking3.9

Active Listening3.5

Speaking3.5

Active Learning3.2

Monitoring3.1

Writing3.1

Mathematics3.0

Learning Strategies2.9

Science1.9

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

AJAX●Adobe Acrobat●Amazon DynamoDB●Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2●Amazon Redshift●Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation●Amazon Web Services AWS software●Ansible software●Apache Airflow●Apache Cassandra●Apache Hadoop●Apache Hive●Apache Kafka●Apache Maven●Apache Spark●Apache Subversion SVN●Apache Tomcat●Apple macOS●Atlassian Confluence●Atlassian JIRA●Autodesk Revit●Bash●C●C#●C++●Cascading style sheets CSS●Chef●Cisco Webex●

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

4 / 5Considerable preparation — a four-year degree plus several years in the field.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−1.9 below average

Spend Time Sitting+1.7 above average

Exposed to Contaminants−1.5 below average

Health and Safety of Other Workers−1.4 below average

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable−1.3 below average

Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures−1.2 below average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions−1.2 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2023-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree76%

Master's Degree14%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.5%

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)5%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2023-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Conventional6.1

Investigative5.6

Enterprising2.7

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Complex Problem Solving3.9

Judgment and Decision Making3.9

Systems Analysis3.8

Programming3.4

Systems Evaluation3.2

Operations Analysis3.1

Technology Design3.0

Social Perceptiveness3.0

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Computers and ElectronicsEngineering and TechnologyDesignMathematicsEnglish LanguageAdministration and Management

Abilities it leans on

Deductive ReasoningWritten ComprehensionOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionInductive ReasoningInformation Ordering

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

DeveloperData MinerData ManagerData ModelerData AnalystData OfficerData EngineerData ArchitectCloud ArchitectServer DeveloperDatabase ModelerDatabase ManagerDatabase AnalystBig Data Engineer

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

Get this as a personal report

The same sourced evidence, recut for the closest published view of your city, state or industry, as a dated PDF.

Free page vs. the $29 report

The page above is a public national reference: it is the same for every reader. The $29 report uses the location or industry you name, states the exact BLS cut used, and packages five decision-focused sections as a PDF. Choose $49 when you need a broader comparison of industries, places, changes and next moves.

$29Occupation reportPay where you are, conditions, preparation, education, what you carry into another job.$49Professional reportAdds two decades of pay, industries, geography, what changed, adjacent occupations and what to study.$99International offerAdds named employers and their actual rates from visa filings, the seniority pay ladder and the cities that hire.

Compare the three reports

What you learn	$29	$49	$99
What it pays in your city and industry	✓	✓	✓
Working conditions, preparation, education	✓	✓	✓
What you carry into another occupation	✓	✓	✓
What this job is called in postings	✓	✓	✓
How pay changed over the years	brief	✓	✓
Where the industry changes the number	—	✓	✓
Where the work actually is	—	✓	✓
What appeared and disappeared in the job	—	✓	✓
How long it takes to become competent	—	✓	✓
Where to move next and what to learn	—	✓	✓
What to study to get in	—	✓	✓
What the same work pays in Britain	—	—	✓
What the same work pays in Canada	—	—	✓
Who hires, by name, and at what rates	—	—	✓
The money ladder by skill level	—	—	✓
Cities that actually sponsor visas	—	—	✓
Sections in the report	5	12	19
Who it is for	If you are deciding whether this work is worth your time.	If you are in the occupation and deciding where to move next.	If you are aiming for an offer abroad.

EmailNameCity or stateIndustry (optional)

What decision are you making? (optional)

No payment is taken now. We reply with a secure payment link.

What changed since 2020

Comparing O*NET release 25.1 (2020-11-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 4 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 34

+Atlassian Confluence+Adobe Dreamweaver+Perl+Microsoft Exchange+Adobe Acrobat+Snowflake+Apache Airflow+Oracle Database+Google Sites+Google Drive+Nearpod+Red Hat OpenShift+Informatica software+React

No longer listed 14

−Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver−Confluence−Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat−Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services−Microsoft Exchange Server−Application server software−Symantec−Google AngularJS−Citrix−Data entry software−Practical extraction and reporting language Perl−PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor−CA Erwin Data Modeler−Oracle software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

DeveloperData MinerData OfficerData AnalystData ModelerData ManagerData EngineerData ArchitectSystem EngineerCloud ArchitectDatabase AnalystDatabase Manager

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
database designer	2521.2	broader
database integrator	2521.4	broader
data warehouse designer	2521.5	broader
database administrator	2521.1	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

Keep exploring

See labor-market evidence in motion.

Watch short Tamhu stories about pay, growth and how work changes — then return to the source data here.

Watch on YouTube →

Watch this occupation

This job has changed before and it will change again. We'll email you when the data moves — a tool appears, a skill gains weight, the pay distribution shifts. Free, and one click to stop.

Check your inbox — your watch starts only after you confirm.

We send data, not advice. No sharing, no resale. Privacy