Database Architects pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $133,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $237,930 or more. The middle half of database architects in San Francisco earn between $163,160 and $212,170.
- $133K10th
- $163K25th
- $176KMedian
- $212K75th
- $238K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $198,740 | $16,562 | $95.55 |
| Median | $175,860 | $14,655 | $84.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $163,160 | $13,597 | $78.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $212,170 | $17,681 | $102.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Database Architects pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Database architects in San Francisco earn 13% more than the California average ($175,330) and 38% more than the U.S. average ($144,440). At the median the gap is +26% against the U.S. median of $139,500.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $198,740 | $175,860 | $133,050 | $237,930 | 1,600 |
| California | $175,330 | $170,160 | $101,200 | $227,900 | 6,210 |
| United States | $144,440 | $139,500 | $86,240 | $204,000 | 67,140 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Database Architects salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $198,740, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $133,597 a year, or $11,133 a month and $5,138 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for database architects? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $198,740 buys what about $171,901 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Database Architects salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 10 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Francisco$198,740
- San Jose$191,170
- Santa Maria$159,170
- Sacramento$157,960
- Los Angeles$157,410
- San Diego$157,310
- Oxnard$155,880
- Stockton$140,050
- Riverside$133,850
- Fresno$128,540
Highest-paying cities for database architects
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($198,740).
- San Francisco, CA$198,740
- San Jose, CA$191,170
- Bridgeport, CT$162,560
- Boston, MA$160,910
- Washington, DC$159,980
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Database Architects salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do database architects make an hour in San Francisco?
$95.55 an hour on average, and $84.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level database architects salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $133,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $163,160, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the database architects take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $133,597 a year ($11,133 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $198,740. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do database architects earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% more than the U.S. average for this job ($144,440).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-1243; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.56, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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