Database Architects Salary
The median pay for a database architects in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $147,490/year ($70.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $101K at the entry level to $200K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $142,379 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 19.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $147K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About database architects
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Database architects pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin tracks closely to the national median, $147K locally vs. $140K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,781/month, 20.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for database architects in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $161K | $173K |
| Peoria | $154K | $169K |
| St. Louis | $122K | $129K |
| Kansas City | $128K | $138K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level database architects (10th percentile) start around $101K. Mid-career wages sit at $147K. Top earners bring in $200K or more, a $100K spread from bottom to top.
Database Architects pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Database Architects salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $170K | +22% | 6,210 |
| Massachusetts | $162K | +16% | 2,690 |
| Virginia | $160K | +15% | 5,260 |
| Arizona | $156K | +12% | 1,200 |
| Colorado | $155K | +11% | 1,950 |
| Texas | $151K | +9% | 8,270 |
| District of Columbia | $150K | +8% | 790 |
| Delaware | $148K | +6% | N/A |
| Connecticut | $144K | +4% | 1,140 |
| Illinois | $143K | +2% | 1,590 |
| New York | $141K | +1% | 3,850 |
| Rhode Island | $140K | +1% | 160 |
| Nevada | $140K | +1% | 420 |
| New Hampshire | $140K | +0% | 120 |
| Georgia | $140K | +0% | 2,590 |
| Florida | $138K | -1% | 1,810 |
| Oregon | $138K | -1% | 730 |
| Wisconsin | $138K | -1% | 520 |
| South Dakota | $137K | -2% | 40 |
| North Carolina | $135K | -3% | 4,070 |
| Nebraska | $134K | -4% | 610 |
| Hawaii | $134K | -4% | 60 |
| Maine | $133K | -5% | 190 |
| Minnesota | $133K | -5% | 1,240 |
| Maryland | $133K | -5% | 1,370 |
| Ohio | $133K | -5% | 1,820 |
| Indiana | $133K | -5% | 500 |
| Utah | $132K | -6% | 630 |
| Michigan | $131K | -6% | 1,390 |
| South Carolina | $130K | -7% | 1,160 |
| Kansas | $130K | -7% | 360 |
| Washington | $129K | -8% | 2,990 |
| Kentucky | $125K | -10% | 350 |
| Iowa | $124K | -11% | 240 |
| Idaho | $121K | -13% | 260 |
| New Jersey | $121K | -13% | 3,090 |
| New Mexico | $118K | -15% | 120 |
| Tennessee | $115K | -17% | 650 |
| Alaska | $113K | -19% | 70 |
| Missouri | $111K | -21% | 1,410 |
| Oklahoma | $110K | -21% | 860 |
| Montana | $110K | -21% | N/A |
| North Dakota | $109K | -22% | 60 |
| Alabama | $105K | -24% | 270 |
| Arkansas | $104K | -25% | 360 |
| Mississippi | $98K | -29% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track database architects salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a database architect afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Yes — at the median salary of $147K, rent takes 20.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for database architects in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new database architects typically earn — is $101K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,031/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is database architect a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $147K locally vs. $140K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for database architects?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $147K median vs. the U.S. average of $140K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $142K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do database architects make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $147,490 a year, that works out to about $71 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $100,510, and experienced database architects can clear $200,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $147K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,688/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 20.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a database architects salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median database architects salary is worth about $142,379 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do database architects get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.