Database Architects Salary
The median pay for a database architects in Pittsburgh, PA is $152,800/year ($73.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $89K at the entry level to $197K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.67), which stretches that salary to about $161,403 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,299/month, or 13.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $153K get you in Pittsburgh?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Pittsburgh’s Regional Price Parity (94.67). 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 Pittsburgh
Database architects pay in Pittsburgh tracks closely to the national median, $153K locally vs. $140K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,299/month, 14.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.67 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for database architects in metros near Pittsburgh, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $164K | $160K |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $151K | $153K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $160K | $160K |
| Lancaster | $146K | $149K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pittsburgh, PA
Entry-level database architects (10th percentile) start around $89K. Mid-career wages sit at $153K. Top earners bring in $197K or more, a $108K 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 Pittsburgh numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a database architect afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pittsburgh?
Yes — at the median salary of $153K, rent takes 14.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,299/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for database architects in Pittsburgh?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new database architects typically earn — is $89K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,344/month. At HUD’s $1,299/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is database architect a high-paying job in Pittsburgh?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $153K locally vs. $140K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Pittsburgh compare to the national average for database architects?
Pittsburgh pays $153K median vs. the U.S. average of $140K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $161K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do database architects make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median is $152,800 a year, that works out to about $73 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $89,060, and experienced database architects can clear $197,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $153K enough to live in Pittsburgh?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,208/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,299/month, which eats 14.1% 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 Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh has a Regional Price Parity of 94.67 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median database architects salary is worth about $161,403 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.