Database Architects
What Database Architects Do
Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 1.4%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 4 of 5Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Job training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Computers and Electronicsimportance 4.3/5
- Engineering and Technologyimportance 4.0/5
- Designimportance 3.7/5
- Mathematicsimportance 3.7/5
- English Languageimportance 3.1/5
- Administration and Managementimportance 2.9/5
- Education and Trainingimportance 2.6/5
- Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 2.3/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- E-Mail5.0/5
- Spend Time Sitting4.8/5
- Telephone Conversations4.4/5
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.3/5
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.2/5
- Freedom to Make Decisions4.2/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Software Developers97% skill match
- Database Administrators96% skill match
- Architectural and Civil Drafters95% skill match
- Physicists93% skill match
- Web Developers92% skill match
- Computer Programmers92% skill match
- Aerospace Engineers92% skill match
- Computer and Information Research Scientists92% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.9/5
- Systems Analysisimportance 3.8/5
- Programmingimportance 3.4/5
- Systems Evaluationimportance 3.3/5
- Operations Analysisimportance 3.1/5
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 3.0/5
- Coordinationimportance 3.0/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
Other Software Used
- 3M Post-it App
- ADO.NET
- ASG Technologies ASG-Zeke
- Ab Initio
- Access management software
- Acronis Recovery Expert
- Adeptia ETL Suite
- Adobe Dreamweaver
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Achievement Orientation
- Cautiousness
- Innovation
- Integrity
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- ConventionalHigh
- InvestigativeHigh
- EnterprisingLow
- RealisticLow
- ArtisticLow
- SocialLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where database architects make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Cheyenne, WY5.12× national avg
- 2Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA3.82× national avg
- 3Durham-Chapel Hill, NC3.78× national avg
- 4Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV3.50× national avg
- 5Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA2.77× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Software DevelopersLateral Move
- Database AdministratorsLateral Move
- Computer ProgrammersLateral Move
- Computer and Information Research ScientistsLateral Move
Related Education Programs
Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus (Atlanta, GA)grads earn ~$195,622
- DeVry University-Illinois (Lisle, IL)
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI)grads earn ~$172,904
- University of North Texas (Denton, TX)
- New York University (New York, NY)grads earn ~$173,716
Computer Science
- University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)grads earn ~$188,871
- University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg, MO)
- University of California-Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)grads earn ~$204,379
- Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR)grads earn ~$121,405
- University of Maryland-College Park (College Park, MD)grads earn ~$137,931
Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance
- Western Governors University (Salt Lake City, UT)grads earn ~$129,303
- Western Governors University (Salt Lake City, UT)grads earn ~$144,205
- University of Maryland Global Campus (Adelphi, MD)grads earn ~$130,314
- MyComputerCareer at Columbus (Columbus, OH)grads earn ~$58,108
- New York University (New York, NY)grads earn ~$152,422