Database Architects Salary
The median pay for a database architects in Tennessee is $115,170/year ($55.37/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $73K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $128,280 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 15.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $115K actually covers in Tennessee, month by month
About database architects
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for database architects in Tennessee runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $140K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 16.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for database architects who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level database architects (10th percentile) start around $73K. Mid-career wages sit at $115K. Top earners bring in $171K or more, a $97K spread from bottom to top.
Database Architects salary by metro in Tennessee
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $124K | +8% | 120 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $122K | +6% | 300 |
| Knoxville | $101K | -12% | 80 |
| Chattanooga | $100K | -13% | 40 |
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Track database architects salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $115K, rent takes 16.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for database architects in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new database architects typically earn — is $73K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,004/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is database architect a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $115K here vs. $140K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for database architects?
Tennessee pays $115K median vs. the U.S. average of $140K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $128K — below the national median.
How much do database architects make in Tennessee?
The median is $115,170 a year, that works out to about $55 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,440, and experienced database architects can clear $170,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $115K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,451/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 16.3% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $128,280 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.