Learn more about the role of an SQL developer. Discover how much you could earn and the SQL developer skills you need to build a career in this field.
An SQL Developer is a hybrid database engineer and software developer who uses structured query language (SQL) to manipulate data, implement database-driven solutions, and build聽聽聽聽
An SQL Developer is a hybrid database engineer and software developer who uses structured query language (SQL) to manipulate data, implement database-driven solutions, and build applications. SQL developers design relational databases and write code that interacts with stored data to complete a business's functional requirements.
In today's digital information age, data quality and accessibility are more important than ever. As a result, SQL developers are in high demand across a wide range of industries, from health care to retail to finance.聽
An SQL developer is a database professional who often works alongside business analysts, database administrators, and other IT professionals. SQL developers help companies by creating and maintaining databases to control and manipulate their data.
The role of an SQL developer is to develop and manage SQL databases by planning, developing, and maintaining them. SQL developers use structured query language (SQL) to create and modify database tables using CRUD SQL commands. CRUD stands for create, read, update, and delete and refers to the four operations developers perform on database tables to manipulate the data.聽
As an SQL developer, you'll optimise database performance, create complex functions and stored procedures, analyse queries, develop security protocols, and resolve problems. They may design database architecture, write complex queries for applications and business intelligence reporting, or create dashboards.
Some queries and application functionality can be simple, such as a command to pull up all records related to a specific customer in an e-commerce database. Code can also be complex, involving multiple tables linked via a web of interconnected relationships, such as supply chain enterprise resource planning (ERP).
SQL developers鈥 code allows users to interact with the information stored in databases, access metrics that show essential business insights, and provide decision support to the organisation.聽
SQL developers must possess a combination of workplace and technical skills to thrive in their roles.
The first and most apparent competency for an SQL developer is proficiency in SQL (Structured Query Language), the programming language used to interface with databases.
In addition to knowing the language, SQL developers need to be familiar with one of the major database management systems, including MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and PostgreSQL.
MySQL is currently the most popular open-source database management system. Michael Widenius, who cofounded MySQL AB (now part of Oracle) with David Axmark in 1995, developed MySQL. It runs on multiple platforms鈥攊ncluding Windows and Linux鈥 and can support small and large databases.
PostgreSQL is another open-source relational database management system available on all major platforms (and some minor ones) and supported by various cloud computing environments.聽
Microsoft SQL Server is a popular relational database management system developed by Microsoft Inc., which runs on Windows servers. Like MySQL, SQL Server has various versions, each supporting features and data scales. Microsoft also offers Azure SQL Database as a cloud-based service.聽
SQL Server is particularly popular in corporate environments. Job advertisements frequently list SSIS, SSRS, or SSAS SQL Server experience as essential criteria for application.
SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services): Microsoft's tool for ETL processes, which loads data from one database to another
SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services): Microsoft's reporting tool for SQL Server databases, which helps create reports
SSAS (SQL Server Analysis Services): Microsoft's tool for building OLAP cubes, which are useful for business intelligence applications
You don鈥檛 need to be an expert in all these areas before becoming an SQL developer, but it helps to grasp at least a few of these tools and resources.
Business intelligence software is the umbrella term for applications that help companies analyse data. SQL developers often help connect databases with business intelligence software packages like Power BI and Tableau.
It might be an SQL developer鈥檚 responsibility to modify the database schema to ensure that external applications can access data or even to build a new database from scratch to meet the needs of a business case.
If you鈥檙e working with data in Excel and want to summarise it using pivot tables, you鈥檒l need to know how to write SQL code. Pivot tables extract and arrange data into neat categories and subcategories for quick analysis. You can also add filters, charts, and other visualisations on top of this data鈥搘hich means you鈥檒l need to learn how to write queries to use them effectively.
Before writing programs, SQL developers must design a database. They are usually responsible for cataloguing and organising data into tables, specifying data types, primary and foreign keys, and other constraints. They may also develop processes to import data from external sources and migrate databases when moving to new technology, such as onto cloud database systems.
SQL developers should have strong programming fundamentals, including experience with one or more programming languages such as Java. .NET, C++, Python, or Ruby on Rails. Developers should also know web application development languages and tools to design front-end user interfaces (e.g., HTML, PHP).
Additional helpful technical knowledge and skills include:
Experience with NoSQL
Knowledge of big data analytics
Strong data management skills
Good understanding of indexing, querying, and normalisation
Good understanding of relational database management system
Good understanding of database integrity and security
As an SQL developer, you鈥檒l need to have excellent interpersonal skills. SQL developers should be able to communicate with colleagues in IT functions and subject matter experts. They also need to be able to discuss functional business requirements with professionals who are not as well-versed in technology. They may collaborate with a diverse group of project professionals during day-to-day work. This could be in person or on a remote basis.
The average annual salary for a SQL developer in the UK is 拢44,485 [], while the average yearly salary for a senior SQL developer is 拢56,760 [].
Here are some common job titles you might see while searching for roles as an SQL developer and their annual salaries, according to Glassdoor:
SQL Server Developer: 拢45,057 []
Oracle Database Administrator (DBA): 拢37,191 []
Oracle Developer: 拢37,876 []
Oracle PL/SQL Developer: 拢45,087 []
DBA Developer: 拢37,191 []
To become an SQL developer, you鈥檒l need the required education, experience, and certifications. Learn more about the necessary qualifications:
As with many careers, a solid educational background can help you become an SQL developer. Many employers prefer candidates with bachelor's degrees in computer science, with possible specialisms in data science, mathematics, engineering, or statistics.
Postgraduate degrees in these fields are also useful for SQL developers. These programs build on undergraduate courses, and students learn advanced programming techniques to develop their SQL developer skills. Postgraduate degrees for SQL developers typically focus on computer science, data analytics, and information technology.
Employers often state that their minimum requirement for SQL developer positions is one to two years of experience with SQL and relational databases.聽
To gain experience, consider freelancing, junior roles, or even volunteer positions in a related field, working on projects using SQL in a production environment. Employers want to see real-life experience from a professional work environment.
You can enhance your progress in your SQL development career by earning Professional Certificates. These certifications demonstrate commitment, proficiency, and mastery of the subject matter, which can help you stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs.
Popular certifications for SQL developers include:
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Data Management and Analytics
Oracle PL/SQL Developer Certified Associate
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)
MySQL 5.7 Database Administrator Certification
IBM Certified Database Associate
Azure Data Fundamentals
Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate Certification
EDB PostgreSQL 12 Associate Certification
You may explore various senior roles on SQL developer career paths. The following are some common roles and their estimated annual salaries, according to Glassdoor UK:
Big data consultant: 拢47,846 []
Information technology manager: 拢63,997 []
Information technology operations manager: 拢45,870 []
Senior software engineer: 拢65,291 []
Director of software development: 拢71,938 []
Informatics consultant: 拢53,041 []
Project manager: 拢49,055 []
Development manager: 拢53,243 []
Senior development manager: 拢75,839 []
Senior programmer analyst: 拢47,576 []
Manager applications development: 拢72,186 []
To start learning about SQL immediately, you can take a guided project on relational databases and SQL. Look at IBM's Data Science Fundamentals with Python and SQL Specialisation. It can be a productive step towards achieving your goals as a SQL developer. You'll develop hands-on experience with Python and SQL and learn how to perform statistical analysis on real-world data sets.
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