Database Administrators vs Database Architects
Median pay is about $35k higher for Database Architects. Both usually start with the same education: bachelor's.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Database Administrators | Database Architects |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $104,620 | $139,500, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $79,610 | $109,370, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $135,460 | $169,290, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | -0.1% Declining | +9.4% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 3,300 | 3,900 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Bachelor's | Bachelor's |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.4 / 5 | 2.4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Very high | Very high |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 98th pct | 92nd pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, active learning, speaking, writing.
More comparisons
Compare Database Administrators with
Compare Database Architects with
Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.