Computer and Mathematical · Holland code CIE
Database Architects
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.
Also called: Database Analyst, Database Developer, Database Programmer, Information Architect, Data Architect, Data Engineer, Data Officer, Database Architect.
O*NET 15-1243.00
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $139,500
- Middle half earn $109,370 to $169,290. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Most common education
- Bachelor's Degree
- 76% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Considerable preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- Develop and document database architectures.
- Collaborate with system architects, software architects, design analysts, and others to understand business or industry requirements.
- Develop database architectural strategies at the modeling, design and implementation stages to address business or industry requirements.
- Design databases to support business applications, ensuring system scalability, security, performance, and reliability.
- Develop data models for applications, metadata tables, views or related database structures.
- Design database applications, such as interfaces, data transfer mechanisms, global temporary tables, data partitions, and function-based indexes to enable efficient access of the generic database structure.
- Develop methods for integrating different products so they work properly together, such as customizing commercial databases to fit specific needs.
- Create and enforce database development standards.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Reading Comprehension3.9 / 5
- Critical Thinking3.9 / 5
- Active Listening3.5 / 5
- Speaking3.5 / 5
- Active Learning3.3 / 5
- Writing3.1 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Computers and Electronics4.3 / 5
- Engineering and Technology4.0 / 5
- Design3.7 / 5
- Mathematics3.7 / 5
- English Language3.1 / 5
- Administration and Management2.9 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic27
- Investigative77
- Artistic19
- Social15
- Enterprising28
- Conventional85
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- ICT intelligent systems designer · DE Entwickler intelligenter IT-Systeme/Entwicklerin intelligenter IT-Systeme · FR concepteur de systèmes intelligents/conceptrice de systèmes intelligents
- ICT system architect · DE IT-Systemarchitekt/IT-Systemarchitektin · FR concepteur de systèmes informatiques/conceptrice de systèmes informatiques
- data analyst · DE Datenanalytiker/Datenanalytikerin · FR analyste de données
- data scientist · DE Datenwissenschaftler/Datenwissenschaftlerin · FR scientifique des données
- database administrator · DE Datenbankadministrator/Datenbankadministratorin · FR administrateur de base de données/administratrice de base de données
- database designer · DE Datenbankdesigner/Datenbankdesignerin · FR concepteur de bases de données /conceptrice de bases de données
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Cyber security professionals (2135)91,200 employed
- IT business analysts, architects and systems designers (2133)212,200 employed
- Information technology professionals n.e.c. (2139)140,000 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Professionals”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €61,714 |
| Germany | €59,529 |
| Ireland | €56,877 |
| Austria | €55,374 |
| Netherlands | €53,595 |
| Sweden | €43,567 |
| France | €41,515 |
| Spain | €35,735 |
| Italy | €33,649 |
| Portugal | €26,072 |
| Poland | €14,380 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
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