Computers and math
Database Architects
- Median pay
- $139,500
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
SOC 15-1243.01Bright outlook
Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections · figures for the broader BLS group "Database architects"
Annual pay range
67,140 people work in this occupation.
In short
Data warehousing specialists design, program, and support corporate databases that store large amounts of information. Belonging to the database architects occupational group, they earned a median annual pay of $139,500 in 2025.
Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.
Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.
Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Data warehousing specialists spend their days working with computers to design, model, and implement corporate data storage systems. They program and configure database warehouses, analyze complex information, and provide ongoing support to the people who use these systems. To do this effectively, they must gather and process information, solve complex problems, and communicate technical meanings clearly to supervisors and peers.
This career strongly appeals to individuals with conventional interests who enjoy structured, detail-oriented tasks. Success in this field requires strong skills in programming, critical thinking, reading comprehension, and systems analysis. Specialists rely heavily on their knowledge of computers, electronics, mathematics, and design. Because they must ensure data integrity and system reliability, these professionals need to demonstrate high attention to detail, dependability, intellectual curiosity, and perseverance in their daily tasks.
To enter this field, most professionals need a bachelor's degree along with several years of related work experience. Students preparing for this career typically major in computer science, computer and information sciences, computer engineering, management information systems, or computer software and media applications. Other relevant majors include information science, computer systems networking, and computer technology administration.
While not always mandatory, earning professional certifications can help demonstrate expertise. Relevant credentials in this field include the Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer from the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, CompTIA Cloud Essentials, and Pearson certifications in Computational Thinking or Data Analytics.
In 2025, the median annual pay for database architects, the broader occupational group that includes data warehousing specialists, was $139,500. The lowest 10 percent of earners in this category made less than $86,240, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $204,000.
With 67,140 people employed in the field, the profession is projected to grow by 9.4 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in approximately 3,900 job openings each year.
Interest code CIE. Compare it with yours
Analytics Manager · Big Data Engineer · Data Integrity Specialist · Data Management Engineer · Data Management Manager · Data Management Specialist · Data Migration Specialist · Data Quality Analyst · Data Specialist · Data Storage Specialist
Career pathway
Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.
1Interests
2This career
3Majors
4Colleges
Interests
This career
Majors
Colleges
College Scorecard program outcomes
Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.
Philadelphia, PA · Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.
NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk
Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.
1,547 colleges offer it
1,184 colleges offer it
1,070 colleges offer it
701 colleges offer it
550 colleges offer it
546 colleges offer it
446 colleges offer it
417 colleges offer it
323 colleges offer it
124 colleges offer it
119 colleges offer it
CareerOneStop
What data warehousing specialists may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.
Core certifications employers recognise for this work.
Programs of study that prepare people for this work. Showing 12 of 14.
Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.
Your plan
Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.
Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.
People in this field are also known as big data engineers, data integrity specialists, data management specialists, data migration specialists, and data storage specialists.
Common majors include computer science, computer engineering, management information systems, information science, and computer/information technology administration.
Employment is projected to grow by 9.4 percent between 2025 and 2035, which is much faster than average. This expansion is expected to generate about 3,900 job openings annually.
Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.
Version 31.0
Version 2025-35 · Data year 2025
Version 2025 · Data year 2025
Version 2020 · Data year 2020
O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.
Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.
Page data updated November 5, 2026.