Database Architects Salary
The median pay for a database architects in Virginia is $160,360/year ($77.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $105K at the entry level to $210K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $169,174 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 16.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $160K get you in Virginia?
About database architects
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What this looks like in Virginia
Virginia sits well above the national pay line for database architects, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $140K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 17.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Virginia offers a genuinely strong financial position for database architectss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level database architects (10th percentile) start around $105K. Mid-career wages sit at $160K. Top earners bring in $210K or more, a $105K spread from bottom to top.
Database Architects salary by metro in Virginia
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $135K | -16% | 490 |
| Richmond | $134K | -17% | 440 |
| Charlottesville | $123K | -23% | 80 |
| Roanoke | $120K | -25% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track database architects salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a database architect afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $160K, rent takes 17.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for database architects in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new database architects typically earn — is $105K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,313/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is database architect a high-paying job in Virginia?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $160K here vs. $140K nationally.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for database architects?
Virginia pays $160K median vs. the U.S. average of $140K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $169K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do database architects make in Virginia?
The median is $160,360 a year, that works out to about $77 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $105,210, and experienced database architects can clear $210,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $160K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,305/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 17.7% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $169,174 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.