Database Architects pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $200,120 or more. The middle half of database architects in Chicago earn between $125,240 and $168,130.
- $101K10th
- $125K25th
- $147KMedian
- $168K75th
- $200K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $146,080 | $12,173 | $70.23 |
| Median | $147,490 | $12,291 | $70.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $125,240 | $10,437 | $60.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $168,130 | $14,011 | $80.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Database Architects pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Database architects in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($144,790) and about the same as the U.S. average ($144,440). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $139,500.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $146,080 | $147,490 | $100,510 | $200,120 | 1,260 |
| Illinois | $144,790 | $142,500 | $97,820 | $193,950 | 1,590 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $146,080, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $104,022 a year, or $8,668 a month and $4,001 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $106,759 | $8,897 |
| Working in IL | $104,022 | $8,668 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for database architects? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $146,080 buys what about $141,011 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Database Architects salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job; Bloomington pays the most ($149,820).
- Bloomington$149,820
- Chicago$146,080
- Peoria$144,640
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 Chicago: questions
How much do database architects make an hour in Chicago?
$70.23 an hour on average, and $70.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level database architects salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $125,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the database architects take-home pay in Chicago?
About $104,022 a year ($8,668 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $146,080.
Do database architects earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.65, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.65).
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