Database Architects
Also called: Database Analyst, Database Developer, Database Programmer, Information ArchitectDesign 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 24 of its 25 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 9.4% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
BLS figures cover the broader occupation “Database architects”, which includes this one and others.
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 2.1% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Database administrators and architects”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.9 hires for every 10 job openings in professional and business services, which employs about 54% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.9 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $105,450 | $92,170 to $139,510 | 270 |
| Alaska | $112,500 | $87,460 to $120,970 | 70 |
| Arizona | $156,100 | $123,890 to $158,430 | 1,200 |
| Arkansas | $104,070 | $87,920 to $131,770 | 360 |
| California | $170,160 | $132,880 to $203,130 | 6,210 |
| Colorado | $154,560 | $122,150 to $168,110 | 1,950 |
| Connecticut | $144,460 | $133,850 to $164,280 | 1,140 |
| Delaware | $147,800 | $130,120 to $159,410 | not published |
| District of Columbia | $150,010 | $101,990 to $177,480 | 790 |
| Florida | $138,320 | $103,080 to $168,500 | 1,810 |
| Georgia | $139,500 | $127,870 to $172,030 | 2,590 |
| Hawaii | $134,040 | $127,140 to $169,370 | 60 |
| Idaho | $121,380 | $99,500 to $163,790 | 260 |
| Illinois | $142,500 | $122,340 to $167,870 | 1,590 |
| Indiana | $132,830 | $106,690 to $163,430 | 500 |
| Iowa | $124,040 | $98,210 to $143,440 | 240 |
| Kansas | $129,990 | $101,710 to $139,940 | 360 |
| Kentucky | $125,400 | $101,410 to $145,760 | 350 |
| Maine | $133,120 | $104,020 to $159,620 | 190 |
| Maryland | $132,940 | $109,030 to $174,690 | 1,370 |
| Massachusetts | $161,650 | $134,740 to $183,610 | 2,690 |
| Michigan | $131,000 | $102,270 to $154,270 | 1,390 |
| Minnesota | $133,050 | $110,360 to $157,680 | 1,240 |
| Mississippi | $98,420 | $73,940 to $118,100 | 100 |
| Missouri | $110,570 | $80,600 to $139,310 | 1,410 |
| Montana | $109,990 | $109,990 to $109,990 | not published |
| Nebraska | $134,320 | $106,470 to $160,220 | 610 |
| Nevada | $140,200 | $110,730 to $189,760 | 420 |
| New Hampshire | $139,990 | $104,820 to $164,110 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $120,790 | $86,600 to $167,000 | 3,090 |
| New Mexico | $117,950 | $99,320 to $152,080 | 120 |
| New York | $141,350 | $100,550 to $180,280 | 3,850 |
| North Carolina | $134,630 | $106,320 to $164,020 | 4,070 |
| North Dakota | $109,430 | $101,880 to $129,660 | 60 |
| Ohio | $132,910 | $111,190 to $157,970 | 1,820 |
| Oklahoma | $110,110 | $107,830 to $165,660 | 860 |
| Oregon | $138,250 | $113,630 to $161,230 | 730 |
| Pennsylvania | not published | not published | 2,840 |
| Puerto Rico | $95,620 | $69,020 to $108,950 | 60 |
| Rhode Island | $140,320 | $128,860 to $171,820 | 160 |
| South Carolina | $130,000 | $99,620 to $159,830 | 1,160 |
| South Dakota | $136,540 | $109,470 to $138,820 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $115,170 | $84,210 to $141,930 | 650 |
| Texas | $151,370 | $127,070 to $165,470 | 8,270 |
| Utah | $131,740 | $110,790 to $164,680 | 630 |
| Virginia | $160,360 | $125,540 to $176,610 | 5,260 |
| Washington | $128,760 | $101,970 to $160,910 | 2,990 |
| West Virginia | not published | not published | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $137,810 | $105,870 to $162,550 | 520 |
| Wyoming | not published | not published | 160 |
Nationally: $139,500. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 24 of its 25 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Develop and document database architectures. | 0.02% |
| AI + software | Collaborate with system architects, software architects, design analysts, and others to understand business or industry requirements. | Not published |
| AI alone | Develop database architectural strategies at the modeling, design and implementation stages to address business or industry requirements. | Not published |
| AI + software | Design databases to support business applications, ensuring system scalability, security, performance, and reliability. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Develop data models for applications, metadata tables, views or related database structures. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | 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. | 0.01% |
See all 25 tasks
| AI + software | Develop methods for integrating different products so they work properly together, such as customizing commercial databases to fit specific needs. | Not published |
| AI alone | Create and enforce database development standards. | Not published |
| AI + software | Document and communicate database schemas, using accepted notations. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Develop data model describing data elements and their use, following procedures and using pen, template or computer software. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Work as part of a project team to coordinate database development and determine project scope and limitations. | Not published |
| AI + software | Demonstrate database technical functionality, such as performance, security and reliability. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop load-balancing processes to eliminate down time for backup processes. | Not published |
| Not much | Identify, evaluate and recommend hardware or software technologies to achieve desired database performance. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Identify and evaluate industry trends in database systems to serve as a source of information and advice for upper management. | Not published |
| AI + software | Set up database clusters, backup, or recovery processes. | Not published |
| AI + software | Identify and correct deviations from database development standards. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance. | Not published |
| AI alone | Write and code logical and physical database descriptions, and specify identifiers of database to management system or direct others in coding descriptions. | 0.02% |
| AI + software | Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications. | Not published |
| AI + software | Review project requests describing database user needs to estimate time and cost required to accomplish project. | Not published |
| AI alone | Develop or maintain archived procedures, procedural codes, or queries for applications. | Not published |
| AI alone | Provide technical support to junior staff or clients. | 0.04% |
| AI + software | Establish and calculate optimum values for database parameters, using manuals and calculators. | Not published |
| AI alone | Train users and answer questions. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 10 of the 25 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 25 tasks fall under 18 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #15 Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies
- #25 Communicate with others about specifications or project details
- #28 Analyze scientific or applied data using mathematical principles
- and 3 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design databases | |||
| Develop operational or technical procedures or standards | |||
| Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies | |||
| Communicate with others about specifications or project details | |||
| Advise others on the design or use of technologies | |||
| Develop models of systems, processes, or products | |||
| Design computer or information systems or applications | |||
| Document technical designs, procedures, or activities |
Show all 18 activities
| Analyze scientific or applied data using mathematical principles | |||
| Resolve computer problems | |||
| Program computer systems or production equipment | |||
| Analyze market or industry conditions | |||
| Set up computer systems, networks, or other information systems | |||
| Develop technical specifications for products or operations | |||
| Implement security measures for computer or information systems | |||
| Estimate project development or operational costs | |||
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures | |||
| Train others to use equipment or products |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Code fixes or debugging16%
- An explanation or answer14%
- A document or report12%
- A SQL or database query12%
- An app or website10%
How they worked with Claude
53% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for database architects specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 1,204,190 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 13%
- 2 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 7%
- 3 Software Developers, Applications (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 4 Computer Systems Analysts Very high +7.9% 4%
- 5 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 1,301,851 moves in
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 11%
- 2 Software Developers, Applications (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 3 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 5%
- 4 Computer Systems Analysts Very high +7.9% 4%
- 5 Computer User Support Specialists Very high -3.5% 4%
The resume data uses 2010 occupation codes. This occupation comes from “Database Administrators” and “Computer Occupations, All Other”, which today also include “Project Management Specialists”, the occupation still called “Database Administrators”, “Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers”, “Web and Digital Interface Designers” and the occupation still called “Computer Occupations, All Other”, so these figures cover those too. Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 5% postsecondary certificate
- 76% bachelor's
- 5% post-bachelor's certificate
- 14% master's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 21 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 1% less than high school
- 5% high school
- 11% some college
- 6% associate's
- 48% bachelor's
- 28% master's
- 1% professional degree
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Database administrators and architects” · 1,687 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Database administrators and architects”
14 programs, such as Computer and Information Sciences, General, Information Technology and Information Science/Studies.
See all
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Information Technology
- Information Science/Studies
- Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst
- Computer Science
- Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration
- Cloud Computing
- Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance
- Computer Engineering, General
- Computer Software Engineering
- Systems Engineering
- Data Science, General
- Data Science, Other
- Management Information Systems, General
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
<5% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | not published | |
| a certification | not published | |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 2 registered apprenticeships in this occupation (Database Architect; Database Architect (NOF)). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Database Architects” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
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