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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Database Engineer, Senior in California is $138,800 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $67.
However, a Database Engineer, Senior's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Database Engineer, Senior Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $151,700 | $12,642 | $2,917 | $73 |
| Average | $138,800 | $11,567 | $2,669 | $67 |
| 25th Percentile | $128,300 | $10,692 | $2,467 | $62 |
CatchProbe Intelligence Technologies - San Francisco, CA
Zilliz - Redwood City, CA
Vertex Sigma Software - Foster City, CA
Eitacies Inc - San Francisco, CA
A Database Engineer, Senior's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Database Engineer, Senior's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Database Engineer, Entry | 0-2 years | $84,339 |
| Database Engineer, Intermediate | 2-4 years | $113,963 |
| Database Engineer, Senior | 4-7 years | $138,718 |
| Database Engineer, Specialist | 7+ years | $159,291 |
| Database Engineer, Lead/Expert | 7-10 years | $185,857 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Database Engineer, Seniors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Database Engineer, Senior salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $155,379. While startup companies pay approximate $131,447.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $131,447 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $139,020 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $150,046 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $155,379 |
For Database Engineer, Senior roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 75% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Database Engineer, Senior positions in Transportation or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Database Engineer, Senior as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | $194,320 | $93.0 | 40% |
| Construction | $187,380 | $90.0 | 35% |
| MFG Nondurable | $180,440 | $87.0 | 30% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $173,500 | $83.0 | 25% |
| Media | $166,560 | $80.0 | 20% |
Understanding how a Database Engineer, Senior's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $151,700 | $12,642 | $2,917 | $73 |
| Average | $138,800 | $11,567 | $2,669 | $67 |
| 25th Percentile | $128,300 | $10,692 | $2,467 | $62 |
For a Database Engineer, Senior, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Database Engineer, Specialist role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $159,300 - a projected growth of 15% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Database Engineer, Senior job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Staffing the Universe
San Mateo, CA
Staffing the Universe | San Mateo, CA
Database EngineerFoster City, CA, United StatesIn-personFull time (usually 30hours/week)ContractOpportunity End Date:12/02/2025Job Description is helping a... more
7 Days Ago
ICONMA
San Mateo, CA
ICONMA | San Mateo, CA
Database EngineerOur client, an AV Manufacturing company, is looking for a Database Engineer for their Foster City, CA location. Responsibilities include d... more
7 Days Ago
Mutual of Omaha Mortgage
Irvine, CA
Mutual of Omaha Mortgage | Irvine, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Database Engineer – Databricks. Location: Hybrid - Irvine, CA. Job Type: Full-Time. Mutual of Omaha is a Fortune 300 Comp... more
3 Days Ago
Centurum
San Diego, CA
Centurum | San Diego, CA
Job Description. Job Description. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. Provides SQL Server Database engineering expertise to support recommendations, designs, deve... more
7 Days Ago
VSolvit
Norco, CA
VSolvit | Norco, CA
Job Description. Job Description. POSITION IS 100% ONSITE DAILY IN NORCO, CA. Job Summary. The Senior SQL Server Database Developer / Data Engineer serves ... more
7 Days Ago
VSolvit
Norco, CA
VSolvit | Norco, CA
Job Description. Job Description. POSITION IS 100% ONSITE IN NORCO, CA. Job Summary. The SQL Server Database Developer / Data Engineer II independently des... more
5 Days Ago
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