Database Architects Salary
The median pay for a database architects in Colorado is $154,560/year ($74.31/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $88K at the entry level to $196K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $149,031 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,832/month, or 19.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $155K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About database architects
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What this looks like in Colorado
Colorado sits well above the national pay line for database architects, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $140K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,832/month, 20.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Colorado offers a genuinely strong financial position for database architects at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level database architects (10th percentile) start around $88K. Mid-career wages sit at $155K. Top earners bring in $196K or more, a $108K spread from bottom to top.
Database Architects salary by metro in Colorado
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $163K | +5% | 1,360 |
| Boulder | $139K | -10% | 150 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $133K | -14% | 50 |
| Colorado Springs | $127K | -18% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track database architects salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a database architect afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $155K, rent takes 20.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for database architects in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new database architects typically earn — is $88K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,535/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is database architect a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $155K here vs. $140K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for database architects?
Colorado pays $155K median vs. the U.S. average of $140K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $149K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do database architects make in Colorado?
The median is $154,560 a year, that works out to about $74 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $88,000, and experienced database architects can clear $195,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $155K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,133/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 20.1% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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 $149,031 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.