Database Architects Salary
The median pay for a database architects in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is $105,430/year ($50.69/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $102K at the entry level to $199K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $94,871 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,501/month, about 35.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $105K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Pay for database architects in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $140K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,501/month, which is 36.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for database architectss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for database architects in metros near Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $134K | $129K |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $142K | $142K |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $143K | $136K |
| Boise City | $123K | $125K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level database architects (10th percentile) start around $102K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $199K or more, a $97K 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
Related careers in Technology
Frequently asked questions
Can a database architect afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $105K, rent takes 36.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for database architects in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new database architects typically earn — is $102K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,118/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $105K here vs. $140K nationally.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for database architects?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $140K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — below the national median.
How much do database architects make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $105,430 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $101,970, and experienced database architects can clear $199,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,880/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 36.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a database architects salary go in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (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 $94,871 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.