Database Architect salary in California
Database Architects in California earn a median of $170,160 a year ($81.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,210 workers.
Pay ranges from $101,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $227,900 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $139,500. California ranks 1st of 46 states for database architects pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.34 database architects per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $175,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for database architects in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $101,200 | $48.66 |
| 25th percentile | $132,880 | $63.89 |
| Median | $170,160 | $81.81 |
| 75th percentile | $203,130 | $97.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $227,900 | $109.57 |
| Average (mean) | $175,330 | $84.29 |
Half of database architects earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $14,180 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,090 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,544.62 |
| Weekly | $3,272.31 |
| Hourly | $81.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Database Architect salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $197,960 | 1,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $175,860 | 1,600 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $169,310 | 230 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $168,390 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $159,240 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $156,800 | 390 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $155,740 | 1,530 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $132,810 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $132,150 | 160 |
| Fresno, CA | $130,290 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for database architects
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $170,160 |
| Massachusetts | $161,650 |
| Virginia | $160,360 |
| Arizona | $156,100 |
| Colorado | $154,560 |
| Texas | $151,370 |
| District of Columbia | $150,010 |
| Delaware | $147,800 |
| Connecticut | $144,460 |
| Illinois | $142,500 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $174,410 | $83.85 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $134,440 | $64.63 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $127,720 | $61.40 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $128,740 | $61.89 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $136,110 | $65.44 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $106,440 | $51.18 |
| Information Security Analyst | $138,570 | $66.62 |
| Computer Network Architect | $158,870 | $76.38 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $79,190 | $38.07 |
| Computer Programmer | $116,760 | $56.13 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $159,100 | $76.49 |
| Web Developer | $119,570 | $57.48 |
| Database Administrator | $113,060 | $54.35 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1243. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a database architect make in California?
The median salary for database architects in California is $170,160 a year, or $81.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $101,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $227,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid database architects make in California?
The top 10% of database architects in California earn at least $227,900 a year. The top 25% earn $203,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for database architects in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $101,200 a year, and a quarter of database architects earn $132,880 or less.
How many database architects work in California?
About 6,210 database architects are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.