Database Architects Salary
The median pay for a database architects in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $135,130/year ($64.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $92K at the entry level to $176K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.94), that's roughly $137,972 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,713/month, or 20.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $135K get you in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk’s Regional Price Parity (97.94). 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
Database architects pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk tracks closely to the national median, $135K locally vs. $140K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,713/month, 21.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.94) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for database architects in metros near Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $134K | $137K |
| Charlottesville | $123K | $124K |
| Roanoke | $120K | $129K |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $163K | $150K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Entry-level database architects (10th percentile) start around $92K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $176K or more, a $83K 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a database architect afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 21.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,713/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for database architects in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new database architects typically earn — is $92K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,536/month. At HUD’s $1,713/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $135K locally vs. $140K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk compare to the national average for database architects?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $140K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.94), the purchasing-power equivalent is $138K — below the national median.
How much do database architects make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median is $135,130 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $92,260, and experienced database architects can clear $175,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,988/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,713/month, which eats 21.4% 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 Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk has a Regional Price Parity of 97.94 (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 $137,972 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.