Database Administrator Salary in Salt Lake City, UT
Database Administrators in Salt Lake City, UT earn a median of $84,000/year, ranging from $64,680 (25th percentile) to $134,400 (90th percentile). After Utah state taxes (4.65%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 112), this is equivalent to $75,000 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Salt Lake City, UT
The tech corridor along South Temple and the east bench neighborhoods hosts major employers like Adobe, Goldman Sachs, and various healthcare systems that rely heavily on database infrastructure. A two-bedroom apartment in the Avenues or Sugar House runs around $1,400 to $1,600 monthly, which feels reasonable until you factor in Utah's 4.65% state income tax on top of federal withholding - that cuts deeper than many realize. Most DBAs here deal with either I-15 commutes from the southern suburbs or a manageable drive from the Foothill neighborhoods; a few catch local transit, but the metro still tilts car-dependent. The strong LDS institutional presence means healthcare and education systems drive consistent database work, especially in electronic health records and member-management platforms. Healthcare databases here tend to be mission-critical and stable, which can mean steady work but also on-call expectations.
1Salary Distribution in Salt Lake City, UT
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Salt Lake City, UT Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT (current) | $84,000 | 112 | $75,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $122,000 | 186 | $65,591 |
| New York, NY | $118,000 | 187 | $63,102 |
| Seattle, WA | $119,000 | 162 | $73,457 |
| Boston, MA | $108,000 | 162 | $66,667 |
| Austin, TX | $98,000 | 124 | $79,032 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Database Administrator salary in Salt Lake City, UT?
The median Database Administrator salary in Salt Lake City, UT is $84,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $64,680 and the 90th percentile is $134,400.
Is Salt Lake City, UT a good place to work as a Database Administrator?
Salt Lake City, UT has a cost of living index of 112 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $84,000 Database Administrator salary in Salt Lake City, UT is equivalent to $75,000 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Salt Lake City, UT?
Salt Lake City, UT has a cost of living index of 112, meaning it is 12% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Utah is approximately 4.65%.
What is the Database Administrator salary range in Salt Lake City, UT?
In Salt Lake City, UT, Database Administrators earn between $64,680 (25th percentile) and $134,400 (90th percentile), with a median of $84,000 per year.
How many Database Administrator jobs are there in Salt Lake City, UT?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 14,400 Database Administrator positions in the Salt Lake City, UT metropolitan area.
What do Database Administrators earn in Salt Lake City, UT?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Database Administrators in Salt Lake City, UT earn a median annual wage of $84,000. The middle 50% earn between $64,680 and $107,520. The top 10% earn more than $134,400. There are approximately 14,400 Database Administrators employed in the Salt Lake City, UT metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 6.8%.
Is Salt Lake City, UT a good place for a Database Administrator?
Salt Lake City, UT has a cost of living index of 112 (US average = 100), making it 12% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Database Administrator in Salt Lake City, UT earning $84,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $75,000 relative to the US median. Utah has a state income tax rate of approximately 4.65%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Salt Lake City, UT?
Salt Lake City, UT's cost of living index is 112, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $84,000 in Salt Lake City, UThas the same purchasing power as $75,000 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Salt Lake City, UT with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Database Administrator in Salt Lake City, UT?
The headline median of $84,000 is only part of the picture. Salt Lake City, UT's cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 89¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $84,000 salary effectively purchases $75,000 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Salt Lake City, UT, housing typically runs 28–35% of gross income for median earners — elevated but still within traditional affordability ranges. For a $84,000 salary, that translates to roughly $26,880/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Utah levies a state income tax of approximately 4.65%, which reduces take-home by roughly $3,906 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $74,007. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($122,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($118,000 median, COL 187); Seattle, WA ($119,000 median, COL 162). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 6.8% year-over-year growth rate for Database Administrators in Salt Lake City, UT is a leading indicator of market health. Above-average hiring pace suggests strong negotiating leverage, frequent counter-offer opportunities, and a deep pipeline of open roles. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Database Administrators or the Utah state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.