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Information TechnologyTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.

Database Architect

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.

Annual openings

149

Median wage

$154,560

Typical education

Education not reported

Growth 2026–2032

+10%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

Education not reported

Credential requirement

Getting certified in the appropriate or similar database administration environment or toolset can usually help you get a job – however, it’s important to understand which certifications employers want to see on your resume. You can do this by looking at current job postings to see what certifications employers are requiring.

Credential detail

Certifications that are valued by some employers include: • Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) • Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) • Oracle Database Administrator Certified Associate • Oracle Database Administrator Certified Professional • Information Technology Information Library (ITIL)

Work experience

Two to five years as a Database Engineer or significant experience in a related occupation.

Remote work

Some companies (information technology companies for example) and jobs (such as call center support) offer the opportunity for staff to work remotely, including from rural locations. To see if a job offers this opportunity, please review job postings from job banks such as ZipRecruiter, Indeed or ConnectingColorado, and look for key words such as "location independent", "remote", "virtual", "telecommute", "flex" or for companies posting the same job in many locations.

Employer competency information

  • Problem Solving & Decision Making — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions; creating alternative solutions to problems and selecting the one that best balances key considerations (e.g., requirements, ease of support, cost); bringing an independent perspective and creativity (“do not just copy and paste solutions”). Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve (e.g., wait time on a server, wait time on a query) or correct performance (e.g., system settings), particularly relative to databases and database management; evaluate systems proactively; creating and applying measures to monitor system performance with warning triggers.
  • Critical & Analytical Thinking — Identifying a set of ways to solve a problem when it arises and then picking the best option given key criteria including cost, risks to the data and environment and other systems, and time; identify ways to preclude problems before they occur; efficiently troubleshoot when problems arise.
  • Planning & Organizing — Monitoring/assessing performance of the IT system and its performance (e.g., up or not, processing speed, resource reserves including storage); ensuring data integrity (the data going in is correct, verified by checks and the system); preclude problems by spotting warning signs and reacting before problems arise.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Develop and document database architectures.
  2. Collaborate with system architects, software architects, design analysts, and others to understand business or industry requirements.
  3. Develop database architectural strategies at the modeling, design and implementation stages to address business or industry requirements.
  4. Design databases to support business applications, ensuring system scalability, security, performance, and reliability.
  5. Develop data models for applications, metadata tables, views or related database structures.
  6. 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.
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