Database Architect Salary in Boston, MA
Database Architects in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $161,650 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $113,891 take-home, or $9,491 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median database architect salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,530
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,022
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,344
- Massachusetts income tax$7,863
- Take-home pay$113,891
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Database Architect pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $126,320 | $60.73 | $91,510 | $7,626 |
| 25th percentile | $134,470 | $64.65 | $96,673 | $8,056 |
| Median (50th) | $161,650 | $77.72 | $113,891 | $9,491 |
| 75th percentile | $173,230 | $83.28 | $121,227 | $10,102 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $200,110 | $96.21 | $139,223 | $11,602 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $161,650 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median database architect's $113,891 take-home pay has the buying power of $105,196 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.8× the national concentration of database architect jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for database architects, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #12 of 32 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $197,960 | $130,652 | $118,320 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | $152,800 | $111,014 | $117,263 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $163,590 | $118,058 | $115,117 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $154,770 | $117,051 | $113,543 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $156,100 | $114,267 | $110,599 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $162,640 | $115,983 | $109,643 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $139,960 | $106,929 | $109,037 |
| 8 | Omaha, NE | $136,620 | $99,309 | $108,049 |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $161,650 | $113,891 | $105,196 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 32 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a database architect make in Boston, MA?
The median database architect salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $161,650 a year, or about $77.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $134,470 and $173,230.
What is a database architect’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $161,650 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $113,891 a year ($9,491 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,863 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a database architect?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $139,500. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $105,196 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #12 of 32 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a database architect afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median database architect’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $170,510
- Software Developer — $166,090
- Computer Network Architect — $160,650
- Information Security Analyst — $136,550
- Database Administrator — $132,370
- Data Scientist — $132,040
- Computer Systems Analyst — $129,180
- Computer Programmer — $128,900
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $122,270
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $122,210
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $121,230
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $116,770