Learn about SQL developer salaries and how to get started on this career path.
SQL stands for structured query language and is sometimes pronounced 鈥渟equel." This language is used to communicate with a database and is an important tool for data professionals.
If you鈥檙e interested in becoming an SQL developer or getting into data science or analysis, then SQL is the language to know. As a SQL developer, you鈥檇 work in the tech industry, where salaries are generally high. Read on to gain a deeper insight into a SQL developer鈥檚 salary and job prospects.
An SQL developer is an information technology (IT) professional who designs, creates, and manages databases or applications using SQL programming language. SQL is a tool used to extract and organize large amounts of data (big data) that are stored in databases so that they can be analyzed. Just like you would use English or another language to speak to a friend or family member, SQL is the language that allows you to communicate with and perform functions on databases to extract data you need.
To manage all the data and make it useful for businesses, SQL developers build and test databases that store the information, making sure they鈥檙e running correctly and troubleshooting whenever necessary. Developers update and delete data as needed by a particular application.
Typical projects for an SQL developer might include inventory management or hospital records management. You would be responsible for controlling the stock for products in an Amazon warehouse, for example, you鈥檇 need to manage inventory levels, reduce insurance costs, and keep reserve stock on hand, all by using SQL for database management.
If you're an aspiring data professional, you'll need to know SQL to work in the field. But what if you're someone who just works with data occasionally rather than professionally?
Knowing SQL can be a valuable skill for almost any professional who handles data鈥 even if you're not an analyst or data scientist. If you'd like to improve your overall data literacy and potential hireability, consider taking a beginner-friendly SQL course like IBM's SQL: A Practical Introduction to Querying Databases.
According to multiple job listing sites, the average annual pay for an SQL developer ranges from $82,426 to $117,450. The following table lists the salary ranges provided by Payscale, Zippia, Indeed, Glassdoor, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [, , , , ]:
Payscale | Zippia | Indeed | Glassdoor | US BLS |
---|---|---|---|---|
$82,426 | $88,505 | $93,203 | $97,156 | $117,450 |
As an SQL developer, your salary might be affected by your geographical location, educational background, experience, and the industry you choose to work in. Learn how each of these factors can impact your yearly earnings.
Salaries can vary depending on where your company is located. Generally, cities with higher costs of living tend to pay higher salaries. However, with many tech companies prioritizing remote work, salaries may be determined by an employee鈥檚 location rather than the company鈥檚. Below is a compilation of the highest-paying cities for SQL developers in the US, according to Indeed []:
Jersey City, NJ: $140,292聽
New York, NY: $134,405
Washington, DC: $130,605聽
Nashville, TN: $129,685聽
Charlotte, NC: $128,032聽
Dallas, TX: $127,307聽
Atlanta, GA: $120,772聽
Chicago, IL: $93,075聽
Houston, TX: $83,210聽
While you don鈥檛 necessarily need a bachelor鈥檚 degree to become an SQL developer, 72 percent of SQL developers have one, according to Zippia []. A bachelor鈥檚 degree allows for an annual income of $87,159, while a master鈥檚 degree yields $93,104 []. Opting for a doctorate offers an even higher income of $99,011 []. Often, SQL developers study computer science, information technology, engineering, or business.听
If you obtain certifications, you may be able to negotiate a higher salary and gain access to organizations or industries that pay more. The following are a few notable certifications you can consider:聽
Oracle PL/SQL Developer Certified Associate: $87,000 []
Oracle Database Administrator Certified Associate: $110,000 []
As in many other jobs, the longer you work as an SQL developer, the more you can expect to earn. Senior SQL developers with five or more years of experience typically earn more, which can vary depending on your industry. The following list details the average base pay you can expect based on your number of years of experience, according to Glassdoor []:
0鈥1 year: $74,967
1鈥3 years: $87,379
4鈥6 years: $101,494
7鈥9 years: $110,032
10鈥14 years: $114,747
15 or more years: $120,063
Industries with high demand for SQL developers often offer competitive salaries to attract and retain talent. As of February 2025, the top-paying industries for SQL developers are the following, according to Glassdoor []:
Financial services: $130,753
Health care: $114,753
Human resources and staffing: $110,219
Legal services: $108,369
Meta, HumanEdge, Kelly Services, and SEI Investments are among the highest-paying companies for SQL developers, with salaries reported at $124,608, $105,673, $104,804, and $104,094 respectively [].
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 9 percent growth in job opportunities for database administrators and architects between 2023 and 2033 []. The projection translates to roughly 13,200 job openings per year.
SQL developers who begin at an entry-level position may grow into senior SQL development positions. An SQL developer can also become a database administrator or business intelligence (BI) developer and grow into a manager, architect, or engineer. Outlined below are the base salaries for a range of related titles, according to Glassdoor:
Database administrator: $105,526
Business intelligence developer: $99,789
Database administration (DBA) manager: $105,526
Information technology (IT) manager: $122,458
Business intelligence architect: $129,084
Database engineer: $120,721
Database architect: $116,356
Business intelligence analyst: $101,508
Data scientist: $118,193
To become an SQL developer, you鈥檒l need to be an expert in these skills:
Relational database: Use the database to manage large amounts of data and design logical models of relational databases.
SQL programming language: Use SQL to control and manipulate databases, enabling the creation of complex queries using tables and variables, and delivering dynamic reporting solutions.
SQL server integration services (SSIS): Use ETL (鈥渆xtract, transform, load鈥) tools to integrate data from unique sources and save all the data in another platform so you can clean and manage it. Develop SSIS solutions that can be applied to business units across an organization.
Analytical skills: SQL developers need analytical skills to understand the organization鈥檚 needs and requirements and then design software solutions that suit those needs.
Learn one of the most widely used programming languages with Introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL), a course offered as part of the Web Applications for Everybody Specialization from the University of Michigan.听
You can also zero in on the Structured Query Language (SQL) at the University of Colorado Boulder, offered as part of the Databases for Data Scientists Specialization, which can also be applied to the Master of Science in Data Science. You can also explore the Meta Database Engineer Professional Certificate to demonstrate proficiency in SQL syntax and explain how it鈥檚 used to interact with a database.
You may add any of these courses to your LinkedIn profile or resume to prove your skills-based learning. Consider Google鈥檚 Data Analytics Professional Certificate for a more in-depth look at key analytical skills such as data analysis and visualization and tools like spreadsheets, SQL, R programming, and Tableau. You can be job-ready in less than six months.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=SQL_Developer/Salary.鈥 Accessed February 26, 2025.
Zippia. 鈥, https://www.zippia.com/salaries/sql-developer/.鈥 Accessed February 26, 2025.
Indeed. 鈥, https://www.indeed.com/career/sql-developer/salaries.鈥 Accessed February 26, 2025.
Glassdoor. 鈥 https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/sql-developer-salary-SRCH_KO0,13.htm.鈥 Accessed February 26, 2025.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 鈥, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/database-administrators.htm.鈥 Accessed February 26, 2025.
Zippia. 鈥, https://www.zippia.com/sql-developer-jobs/education/.鈥 Accessed February 26, 2025.听
Payscale. 鈥,https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Oracle_PL%2FSQL_Developer_Certified_Associate_(OCA)/Salary.鈥 Accessed February 26, 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Oracle_Database_Administrator_Certified_Associate_(OCA)/Salary.鈥 Accessed February 26, 2025.
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