25th pctl
$109K
Database Engineering Salary in Los Angeles
What you should make. What you should ask for. Calculated from 1M+ data points, refreshed monthly.
Median (p50)
$131K
75th pctl
$156K
90th pctl
$178K
Adjusted for Los Angeles at 1.15× the national baseline. See the math →
What this number means.
Database Engineering in Los Angeles pulls a median of $131,100 at mid-IC, with a top-quartile band reaching $156,400 and the 90th percentile at $178,250. The Los Angeles adjustment moves the band 15% above the national baseline. $156,400 is what top-quartile Database Engineering pay looks like in Los Angeles. Don't undersell.
How to negotiate this
- Anchor$156,400 — the top-quartile number. This is the number you say first.
- Target$143,750 — where a fair counter lands. Above the median, below the anchor.
- Floor$131,100 — below this, you're underpaid. Walking away gets cheaper than staying.
Carry the math. Not the maybe.
AMMO is the corner man for the conversation that decides your year. Real comp data, an offer grader, and counter language drafted from your numbers. Get on the list before iOS launch.
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Database Engineering elsewhere
Adjacent metros
Read how these numbers are computed →
Numbers are estimates. Your offer depends on company, level, equity structure, and the conversation you're about to have. AMMO is a tool. You are the negotiator.