Database Architect salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Database Architects in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $197,960 a year ($95.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $128,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $263,770 for the top 10%. That is 42% higher than the national median of $139,500. Pay here is 16% higher than the California statewide median of $170,160. There are 0.99 database architects per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $191,170, close to the median.
Pay range for database architects in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $128,890 | $61.96 |
| 25th percentile | $141,000 | $67.79 |
| Median | $197,960 | $95.17 |
| 75th percentile | $217,670 | $104.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $263,770 | $126.81 |
| Average (mean) | $191,170 | $91.91 |
Half of database architects earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $16,496.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,248.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,613.85 |
| Weekly | $3,806.92 |
| Hourly | $95.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $197,960 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Database Architect salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $175,860 | 1,600 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $169,310 | 230 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $168,390 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $159,240 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $156,800 | 390 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $155,740 | 1,530 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $132,810 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $132,150 | 160 |
| Fresno, CA | $130,290 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for database architects
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $170,160 |
| Massachusetts | $161,650 |
| Virginia | $160,360 |
| Arizona | $156,100 |
| Colorado | $154,560 |
| Texas | $151,370 |
| District of Columbia | $150,010 |
| Delaware | $147,800 |
| Connecticut | $144,460 |
| Illinois | $142,500 |
See Database Architect pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $213,110 | $102.46 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $184,430 | $88.67 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $157,140 | $75.55 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $166,530 | $80.06 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $93,590 | $45.00 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $201,260 | $96.76 |
| Computer Network Architect | $186,110 | $89.47 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $133,360 | $64.12 |
| Information Security Analyst | $176,120 | $84.67 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $218,420 | $105.01 |
| Web Developer | $166,670 | $80.13 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $124,130 | $59.68 |
| Computer Programmer | $154,920 | $74.48 |
| Database Administrator | $138,620 | $66.64 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1243. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a database architect make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for database architects in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $197,960 a year, or $95.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $128,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $263,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid database architects make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of database architects in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $263,770 a year. The top 25% earn $217,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for database architects in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $128,890 a year, and a quarter of database architects earn $141,000 or less.
How many database architects work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 1,120 database architects are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.