diff --git a/.github/workflows/pythontest.yml b/.github/workflows/pythontest.yml
index a4862cc657..a4046a4e90 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pythontest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pythontest.yml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ jobs:
       # Label used to access the service container
       postgres:
         # Docker Hub image
-        image: postgres:12
+        image: postgres:16
         # Provide the password for postgres
         env:
           POSTGRES_USER: learningequality
diff --git a/docker/Dockerfile.postgres.dev b/docker/Dockerfile.postgres.dev
index 0a38a49719..fd1620f53b 100644
--- a/docker/Dockerfile.postgres.dev
+++ b/docker/Dockerfile.postgres.dev
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Installs pgvector to postgres base image.
-ARG PG_MAJOR=12
+ARG PG_MAJOR=16
 FROM postgres:$PG_MAJOR
 
 LABEL org.opencontainers.image.source=https://github.com/learningequality/studio
diff --git a/docs/host_services_setup.md b/docs/host_services_setup.md
index 53364d6c9e..f14c4476eb 100644
--- a/docs/host_services_setup.md
+++ b/docs/host_services_setup.md
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ Studio requires some background services to be running:
 ```bash
 # Install packages
 sudo apt-get install -y python-tk \
-    postgresql-server-dev-all postgresql-contrib postgresql-client postgresql-12 \
+    postgresql-server-dev-all postgresql-contrib postgresql-client postgresql-16 \
     ffmpeg libmagickwand-dev redis-server wkhtmltopdf
 
 # Install minio
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ sudo chmod +x bin/minio
 
 ### Mac OS
 ```bash
-brew install postgresql@12 redis ffmpeg imagemagick@6 gs
+brew install postgresql@16 redis ffmpeg imagemagick@6 gs
 # note, this version of minio may not be compatible with Studio
 brew install minio/stable/minio
-brew link --force postgresql@12
+brew link --force postgresql@16
 brew link --force imagemagick@6
 ```
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ Make sure postgres is running:
 
 ```bash
 service postgresql start
-# alternatively: pg_ctl -D /usr/local/var/postgresql@12 start
+# alternatively: pg_ctl -D /usr/local/var/postgresql@16 start
 ```
 
 Start the client with:
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ pyenv deactivate
 ```
 
 ### A note about `psycopg2`
-The packages `postgresql-12`, `postgresql-contrib`, and `postgresql-server-dev-all` are required to build `psycopg2` python driver.
+The packages `postgresql-16`, `postgresql-contrib`, and `postgresql-server-dev-all` are required to build `psycopg2` python driver.
 
 ### A note about dependencies on Apple Silicon M1+
 If you run into an error with `pip install` related to the `grcpio` package, it is because it currently [does not support M1 with the version for `grcpio` Studio uses](https://github.com/grpc/grpc/issues/25082). In order to fix it, you will need to add the following environmental variables before running `pip install`:
diff --git a/docs/local_dev_host.md b/docs/local_dev_host.md
index 237f0e62e4..03676c412e 100644
--- a/docs/local_dev_host.md
+++ b/docs/local_dev_host.md
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ Studio requires some background services to be running:
 ```bash
 # Install packages
 sudo apt-get install -y python-tk \
-    postgresql-server-dev-all postgresql-contrib postgresql-client postgresql-12 \
+    postgresql-server-dev-all postgresql-contrib postgresql-client postgresql-16 \
     ffmpeg libmagickwand-dev redis-server wkhtmltopdf
 
 # Install minio
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ sudo chmod +x bin/minio
 
 ### Mac OS
 ```bash
-brew install postgresql@12 redis ffmpeg imagemagick@6 gs
+brew install postgresql@16 redis ffmpeg imagemagick@6 gs
 # note, this version of minio may not be compatible with Studio
 brew install minio/stable/minio
-brew link --force postgresql@12
+brew link --force postgresql@16
 brew link --force imagemagick@6
 ```
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ Make sure postgres is running:
 
 ```bash
 service postgresql start
-# alternatively: pg_ctl -D /usr/local/var/postgresql@12 start
+# alternatively: pg_ctl -D /usr/local/var/postgresql@16 start
 ```
 
 Start the client with:
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ pyenv deactivate
 ```
 
 ### A note about `psycopg2`
-The packages `postgresql-12`, `postgresql-contrib`, and `postgresql-server-dev-all` are required to build `psycopg2` python driver.
+The packages `postgresql-16`, `postgresql-contrib`, and `postgresql-server-dev-all` are required to build `psycopg2` python driver.
 
 ### A note about dependencies on Apple Silicon M1+
 If you run into an error with `pip install` related to the `grcpio` package, it is because it currently [does not support M1 with the version for `grcpio` Studio uses](https://github.com/grpc/grpc/issues/25082). In order to fix it, you will need to add the following environmental variables before running `pip install`:
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index c3348e4981..f194e5e2b6 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@
           python36
           python36Packages.venvShellHook
           python36Packages.wheel
-          postgresql96 # for building psycopg2
+          postgresql16 # for building psycopg2
         ];
-        runTimePkgs = with npkgs; [ minio postgresql96 redis ];
+        runTimePkgs = with npkgs; [ minio postgresql16 redis ];
         cloudPkgs = with npkgs; [
           google-cloud-sdk
           kubectl