Database Architect Salary in Raleigh, NC
Database Architects in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $132,740 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $97,206 take-home, or $8,101 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median database architect salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,592
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,230
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,925
- North Carolina income tax$4,788
- Take-home pay$97,206
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.99% state
Database Architect pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $70,200 | $33.75 | $55,923 | $4,660 |
| 25th percentile | $98,190 | $47.21 | $74,498 | $6,208 |
| Median (50th) | $132,740 | $63.82 | $97,206 | $8,101 |
| 75th percentile | $161,470 | $77.63 | $115,697 | $9,641 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $198,320 | $95.35 | $140,270 | $11,689 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,740 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median database architect's $97,206 take-home pay has the buying power of $99,031 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Raleigh, NC has 2.2× 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
Raleigh, NC ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $132,740 | $97,206 | $99,031 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 32 metros →
Database Architect salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Durham, NC — $141,770
- Charlotte, NC — $138,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a database architect make in Raleigh, NC?
The median database architect salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $132,740 a year, or about $63.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,190 and $161,470.
What is a database architect’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $132,740 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $97,206 a year ($8,101 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,788 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a database architect?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $139,500. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $99,031 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #19 of 32 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a database architect afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median database architect’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Raleigh, NC
- Information Security Analyst — $143,640
- Software Developer — $132,770
- Database Administrator — $122,950
- Data Scientist — $120,710
- Computer Network Architect — $120,640
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $110,800
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $110,030
- Computer Systems Analyst — $108,480
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $103,380
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $102,860
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $63,910
- Computer User Support Specialist — $62,460