Database Architects
15-1243.00
Bright Outlook Updated 2024

The occupation code you requested, 15-1199.06 (Database Architects), is no longer in use. In the future, please use 15-1243.00 (Database Architects) instead.

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

Sample of reported job titles: Data Architect, Data Engineer, Data Officer, Database Analyst, Database Architect, Database Consultant, Database Developer, Database Programmer, Enterprise Architect, Information Architect

Also see: Data Warehousing Specialists

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks

  • Develop and document database architectures.
  • Collaborate with system architects, software architects, design analysts, and others to understand business or industry requirements.
  • Develop database architectural strategies at the modeling, design and implementation stages to address business or industry requirements.
  • Design databases to support business applications, ensuring system scalability, security, performance, and reliability.
  • Develop data models for applications, metadata tables, views or related database structures.
  • Design database applications, such as interfaces, data transfer mechanisms, global temporary tables, data partitions, and function-based indexes to enable efficient access of the generic database structure.
  • Develop methods for integrating different products so they work properly together, such as customizing commercial databases to fit specific needs.
  • Create and enforce database development standards.
  • Document and communicate database schemas, using accepted notations.
  • Develop data model describing data elements and their use, following procedures and using pen, template or computer software.
  • Work as part of a project team to coordinate database development and determine project scope and limitations.
  • Identify and evaluate industry trends in database systems to serve as a source of information and advice for upper management.
  • Set up database clusters, backup, or recovery processes.
  • Demonstrate database technical functionality, such as performance, security and reliability.
  • Develop load-balancing processes to eliminate down time for backup processes.
  • Plan and install upgrades of database management system software to enhance database performance.
  • Identify, evaluate and recommend hardware or software technologies to achieve desired database performance.
  • Test programs or databases, correct errors, and make necessary modifications.
  • Identify and correct deviations from database development standards.
  • Review project requests describing database user needs to estimate time and cost required to accomplish project.
  • Write and code logical and physical database descriptions, and specify identifiers of database to management system or direct others in coding descriptions.
  • Develop or maintain archived procedures, procedural codes, or queries for applications.
  • Provide technical support to junior staff or clients.
  • Establish and calculate optimum values for database parameters, using manuals and calculators.
  • Train users and answer questions.
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Technology Skills

  • Access software — Access management software; Citrix cloud computing software
  • Administration software — Redgate SQL Server
  • Analytical or scientific software — IBM SPSS Statistics Hot technology ; Minitab; SAS Hot technology ; The MathWorks MATLAB Hot technology ; 4 more
  • Application server software — Docker Hot technology ; GitHub Hot technology ; Red Hat OpenShift Hot technology ; Spring Boot Hot technology ; 3 more
  • Backup or archival software — Data Recovery Software SQL Server Data Recovery; EMC NetWorker; Oracle Recovery Manager; Veritas NetBackup; 8 more
  • Business intelligence and data analysis software — IBM Cognos Impromptu; Micosoft SQL Server Analysis Services SSAS; Microsoft Power BI In-Demand Hot technology ; Tableau In-Demand Hot technology ; 3 more
  • Cloud-based data access and sharing software — Google Drive; Microsoft SharePoint Hot technology
  • Cloud-based management software — Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation Hot technology ; IBM WebSphere; Jitterbit; Splunk Enterprise Hot technology
  • Cloud-based protection or security software — SolarWinds
  • Clustering software — Cluster server software; Oracle Real Application Cluster RAC; VMware
  • Communications server software — IBM Domino
  • Computer aided design CAD software — Autodesk Revit Hot technology
  • Configuration management software — Chef Hot technology ; Perforce Helix software; Puppet Hot technology ; Red Hat Ansible Engine; 1 more
  • Content workflow software — Atlassian JIRA Hot technology
  • Customer relationship management CRM software — Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge; Oracle Eloqua; Salesforce software Hot technology
  • Data base management system software — Amazon DynamoDB Hot technology ; Elasticsearch Hot technology ; MongoDB Hot technology ; Oracle PL/SQL Hot technology ; 43 more
  • Data base reporting software — Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS Hot technology ; Oracle Reports; Oracle SQL Plus; SAP Crystal Reports; 3 more
  • Data base user interface and query software — Apache Hive Hot technology ; Blackboard software; IBM DB2 Hot technology ; Transact-SQL Hot technology ; 11 more
  • Data mining software — Google Analytics Hot technology ; IBM InfoSphere Warehouse; Rapid-I RapidMiner
  • Desktop communications software — Skype
  • Desktop publishing software — Microsoft Publisher
  • Development environment software — Apache Kafka Hot technology ; Apache Maven Hot technology ; Go Hot technology ; Oracle SQL Developer Hot technology ; 19 more
  • Document management software — Adobe Acrobat Hot technology ; IBM Content Manager
  • Electronic mail software — IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook Hot technology
  • Enterprise application integration software — Atlassian Bamboo Hot technology ; Extensible markup language XML Hot technology ; IBM InfoSphere DataStage; Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services SSIS Hot technology ; 6 more
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software — Microsoft Dynamics Hot technology ; Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; Oracle PeopleSoft Hot technology ; SAP software Hot technology ; 9 more
  • Enterprise system management software — IBM Power Systems software
  • Expert system software — Ansible software Hot technology ; Apache Mahout
  • File versioning software — Apache Subversion SVN Hot technology ; Git Hot technology
  • Geographic information system — ESRI ArcGIS software Hot technology ; Geographic information system GIS software
  • Information retrieval or search software — Apache Avro; Data validation software; LexisNexis
  • Manufacturing execution system MES software — CA Easytrieve Report Generator
  • Medical software — Epic Systems Hot technology
  • Metadata management software — Informatica software Hot technology ; Quest Erwin Data Modeler; SAP PowerDesigner; Talend Data Fabric; 16 more
  • Multi-media educational software — Nearpod
  • Network conferencing software — LogMeIn GoToWebinar
  • Network monitoring software — Nagios; Wireshark; Zabbix
  • Network security and virtual private network VPN equipment software — Virtual private networking VPN software
  • Network security or virtual private network VPN management software — Database security software
  • Object or component oriented development software — Apache Spark In-Demand Hot technology ; jQuery Hot technology ; Scala Hot technology ; Swift Hot technology ; 13 more
  • Object oriented data base management software — Hibernate ORM Hot technology ; IBM Informix; Object database management system ODBMS; PostgreSQL Hot technology
  • Office suite software — Microsoft Office software In-Demand Hot technology
  • Operating system software — Bash Hot technology ; Microsoft Windows Server Hot technology ; Red Hat Enterprise Linux Hot technology ; UNIX Shell Hot technology ; 15 more
  • Portal server software — Apache HTTP Server
  • Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint In-Demand Hot technology
  • Process mapping and design software — Microsoft Visio Hot technology ; Visual Paradigm DB Visual ARCHITECT
  • Program testing software — Database testing software; Hewlett Packard LoadRunner; JUnit Hot technology ; Selenium Hot technology ; 1 more
  • Project management software — Atlassian Confluence Hot technology ; Microsoft Project Hot technology ; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management Hot technology
  • Requirements analysis and system architecture software — Database capacity planning software; Unified modeling language UML
  • Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel In-Demand Hot technology
  • Storage media loading software — Intel Data Migration Software
  • Storage networking software — Amazon Simple Storage Service S3 Hot technology ; Storage area network SAN software
  • Transaction security and virus protection software — Encryption software; McAfee; NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software
  • Transaction server software — Customer information control system CICS
  • Video conferencing software — Cisco Webex Hot technology ; Google Meet; LogMeIn GoToMeeting
  • Web page creation and editing software — Adobe Dreamweaver; Google Sites
  • Web platform development software — Django Hot technology ; Google Angular Hot technology ; React Hot technology ; Spring Framework Hot technology ; 23 more
  • Word processing software — 3M Post-it App; Google Docs Hot technology ; Microsoft Word Hot technology
Hot technology
Hot Technologies are requirements most frequently included across all employer job postings.
In demand
In Demand skills are frequently included in employer job postings for this occupation.

Occupational Requirements

Work Activities

  • Working with Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
  • Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
  • Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
  • Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Detailed Work Activities

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Work Context

Experience Requirements

Job Zone

Title
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related Experience
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Job Zone Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
SVP Range
(7.0 to < 8.0)

Training & Credentials

State training
Local training
Certifications
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Apprenticeship Opportunities

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Worker Requirements

Skills

  • Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Systems Analysis — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Programming — Writing computer programs for various purposes.
  • Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Systems Evaluation — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
  • Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Operations Analysis — Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
  • Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems.
  • Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Technology Design — Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
  • Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Knowledge

  • Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Engineering and Technology — Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • Design — Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:

  • 76%
     
    Bachelor’s degree required
  • 14%
     
    Master’s degree required
  • 5%
     
    Post-secondary certificate required

Worker Characteristics

Abilities

  • Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Flexibility of Closure — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Fluency of Ideas — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Mathematical Reasoning — The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
  • Number Facility — The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  • Perceptual Speed — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Originality — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Interests

Interest code: CI
Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.
  • Conventional — Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
  • Investigative — Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Work Values

  • Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
  • Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Work Styles

  • Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
  • Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
  • Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
  • Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
  • Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
  • Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
  • Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
  • Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
  • Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
  • Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
  • Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
  • Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
  • Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Workforce Characteristics

Wages & Employment Trends

Median wages (2023)
$64.76 hourly, $134,700 annual
State wages
Local wages
Employment (2023)
61,400 employees
Projected growth (2023-2033)
Much faster than average (9% or higher)
Projected job openings (2023-2033)
4,200
State trends
Top industries (2023)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 wage data and 2023-2033 employment projections . “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2023-2033). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Job Openings on the Web

State job openings
Local job openings

More Information

Professional Associations

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National Associations
Accreditation, Certification, & Unions