Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Database Administrator's pay go, state by state?
A Database Administrator's pay leaves the most room in Kansas — about $8,658/mo take-home against $1,025/mo typical rent — and the least in West Virginia.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | $8,658/mo | $1,025/mo | 12% |
| Massachusetts | $7,899/mo | $1,716/mo | 22% |
| New Jersey | $7,764/mo | $1,656/mo | 21% |
| Connecticut | $7,436/mo | $1,483/mo | 20% |
| District of Columbia | $7,814/mo | $1,900/mo | 24% |
| Colorado | $7,567/mo | $1,659/mo | 22% |
| Rhode Island | $7,185/mo | $1,289/mo | 18% |
| Tennessee | $6,994/mo | $1,111/mo | 16% |
| Maryland | $7,398/mo | $1,683/mo | 23% |
| North Carolina | $6,824/mo | $1,147/mo | 17% |
| Arizona | $7,016/mo | $1,419/mo | 20% |
| Washington | $7,117/mo | $1,641/mo | 23% |
| Georgia | $6,760/mo | $1,320/mo | 20% |
| Delaware | $6,711/mo | $1,321/mo | 20% |
| California | $7,291/mo | $1,969/mo | 27% |
| New Hampshire | $6,733/mo | $1,424/mo | 21% |
| Texas | $6,631/mo | $1,328/mo | 20% |
| Vermont | $6,508/mo | $1,207/mo | 19% |
| Michigan | $6,354/mo | $1,072/mo | 17% |
| Ohio | $6,143/mo | $986/mo | 16% |
| Pennsylvania | $6,312/mo | $1,176/mo | 19% |
| Virginia | $6,671/mo | $1,547/mo | 23% |
| Florida | $6,648/mo | $1,542/mo | 23% |
| Maine | $6,196/mo | $1,104/mo | 18% |
| South Carolina | $6,219/mo | $1,131/mo | 18% |
| Minnesota | $6,301/mo | $1,230/mo | 20% |
| Illinois | $6,276/mo | $1,246/mo | 20% |
| Louisiana | $6,052/mo | $1,028/mo | 17% |
| Oregon | $6,401/mo | $1,431/mo | 22% |
| Iowa | $5,856/mo | $932/mo | 16% |
| Wisconsin | $5,949/mo | $1,033/mo | 17% |
| New Mexico | $5,890/mo | $1,034/mo | 18% |
| New York | $6,377/mo | $1,621/mo | 25% |
| Utah | $6,024/mo | $1,396/mo | 23% |
| Arkansas | $5,520/mo | $903/mo | 16% |
| South Dakota | $5,480/mo | $910/mo | 17% |
| Alabama | $5,530/mo | $967/mo | 17% |
| Alaska | $5,902/mo | $1,361/mo | 23% |
| Nebraska | $5,534/mo | $1,017/mo | 18% |
| Missouri | $5,306/mo | $997/mo | 19% |
| Mississippi | $5,173/mo | $933/mo | 18% |
| Kentucky | $5,123/mo | $918/mo | 18% |
| Montana | $5,231/mo | $1,031/mo | 20% |
| Wyoming | $5,163/mo | $979/mo | 19% |
| Oklahoma | $4,987/mo | $970/mo | 19% |
| Hawaii | $5,883/mo | $1,927/mo | 33% |
| North Dakota | $4,833/mo | $911/mo | 19% |
| Indiana | $4,939/mo | $1,022/mo | 21% |
| Nevada | $5,320/mo | $1,478/mo | 28% |
| Idaho | $4,913/mo | $1,163/mo | 24% |
| West Virginia | $4,214/mo | $848/mo | 20% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.