Database Administrator Salary in Cambridge, MA: $131,767 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time database administrator in Cambridge, MA earns a median $131,767/year (≈ $63.35/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-1242). Once you factor in Cambridge's price level (9% above national, BEA RPP 108.5), that paycheck buys what $121,444 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 13.8% above the Massachusetts state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
As organizations increasingly migrate from traditional on-premise databases to cloud-managed solutions, the demand for skilled database administrators in Cambridge, Massachusetts, remains strong. This shift is reflected in the projected median salary for 2026, which stands at $131,767, significantly above the national median of $106,691. The local salary ranges from $76,425 at the 10th percentile to $204,239 at the 90th percentile, highlighting the diverse compensation landscape for these professionals. These figures are derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for the regional cost of living, which plays a significant role in shaping salaries. Professionals specializing in cloud technologies, particularly PostgreSQL, can expect to see higher compensation as organizations pivot to modern data stacks.
About the Cambridge Market
Salary estimated from Massachusetts average ($125,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $76,425 | $36.74 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $95,979 | $46.15 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $131,767 | $63.35 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $168,663 | $81.08 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $204,239 | $98.20 |
Median Salary Position
23.50% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cambridge
In Cambridge, MA, the database administrator salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $127,814 (2026 est.). At $131,767, the local median is 23.5% above the national median of $106,691.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Cambridge: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cambridge Database Administrator Pay Compares
Cambridge median: $131,767/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cambridge Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Average | $115,789 | +13.80% more |
| National Average | $106,691 | +23.50% more |
Database Administrators in Cambridge, MA earn a median of $131,767 per year (2026 est.), which is 23.50% higher than the national median of $106,691 and 13.80% above the Massachusetts state average of $115,789.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cambridge has a cost of living 8.50% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cambridge, MA has a cost-of-living index of 108.5 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $131,767 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $121,444 — a 7.83% reduction.
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2021 BLS Actual
$119,440
2025 BLS Actual
$129,209
2026 Current Est.
$131,767
2021–2027 Growth
+12.5%
Salary Trajectory for Database Administrators in Cambridge (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.98% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $119,440 | Actual |
| 2022 | $123,367 | Actual |
| 2023 | $125,368 | Actual |
| 2024 | $133,710 | Actual |
| 2025 | $129,209 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $131,767 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $134,376 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cambridge metropolitan area, the median database administrator salary grew 8.2% from $119,440 (2021) to $129,209 (2025). At a 1.98% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $134,376 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,936 (12.51%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cambridge metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 1.98% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $76,425 – $95,979 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $95,979 – $131,767 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $131,767 – $168,663 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $168,663 – $204,239 |
DBA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual database administrator compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Database Administrator Job Market in Cambridge
In Cambridge, there are currently 22 database administrators, contributing to a competitive landscape for quality talent. The cost of living index, at 108.5, indicates that while salaries are relatively high, the purchasing power is tempered by elevated living expenses. Employers in the area that tend to offer the highest compensation include tech companies like FAANG, financial services giants such as JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, and specialized consulting firms focused on database management. The disparity in pay is influenced by factors such as area of expertise—cloud skills with PostgreSQL command a premium—and the necessity for security clearances in government roles. Maximizing pay in this market involves pursuing certifications such as Oracle OCP and Microsoft Azure Database, while also considering the evolving landscape that values DBAs transitioning towards roles in site reliability engineering (SRE) and data engineering.
More salary data for Cambridge, MA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do database administrators make in Cambridge, MA in 2026?
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Written by Amina Khan, MS, DBA
Career Analyst
Amina has 10 years of experience in database management. She specializes in relational database systems. Amina works in a technology consulting firm.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $129,209 for database administratorsin the Cambridge metropolitan area. A 1.98% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Cambridge is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.98%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for database administrators (SOC 15-1242).
Compiled and verified by Amina Khan, MS, DBA, a licensed database administrator with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov