As of February 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Database Engineer I in the United States is $37, which translates to an annual salary of about $76,486.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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A Database Engineer I'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 I'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 I | 0-2 years | $76,486 |
| Database Engineer II | 2-4 years | $103,350 |
| Database Engineer III | 4-7 years | $125,761 |
| Database Engineer IV | 7+ years | $144,401 |
| Database Engineer V | 7-10 years | $168,417 |
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 Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Analysis | 3.55% |
| Computer Science | 3.76% |
| Data Modeling | 2.12% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Partnering
|
$80,310 |
5%
|
|
Integrity
|
$79,545 |
4%
|
|
Data Warehousing
|
$79,545 |
4%
|
|
Agile
|
$78,781 |
3%
|
|
AWS
|
$78,781 |
3%
|
|
Collaboration
|
$78,781 |
3%
|
Understanding how a Database Engineer I'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.
Last Updated on February 01, 2026
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Plans, designs, develops, and manages an organization's databases to ensure efficient data storage, access, and security. Collaborates with users to design, code, test, debug, and deploy databases that meet requirements and organizational needs. Monitors database performance, scalability, and security. Evaluates existing database design to determine necessary updates, performance tuning, and integration requirements. Modifies procedures to optimize database designs. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Computer Science: Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
Data Modeling: Data modeling in software engineering is the process of creating a data model for an information system by applying certain formal techniques.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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