What Does a Database Developer Do?
A database developer creates and maintains the code that powers database systems used in applications, reporting tools, and internal operations. Their primary focus is building stored procedures, queries, and data pipelines that enable efficient storage, retrieval, and manipulation of structured data. Whether designing new schemas or modifying existing ones, they help applications interact seamlessly with the underlying database infrastructure.
Database developers work closely with software engineers, data analysts, and administrators to ensure the database layer meets performance, scalability, and security requirements. They help automate data workflows, optimize SQL performance, and create reusable components that support business logic and analytics. Their work supports everything from user-facing applications to backend systems, making them a key player in data-driven development environments.
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Database Developer Core Responsibilities
- Develop stored procedures, triggers, views, and custom functions
- Write and optimize complex SQL queries for performance and maintainability
- Design and modify relational database schemas to support application features
- Collaborate with software developers to integrate databases into applications
- Build and maintain ETL processes for data ingestion, transformation, and migration
- Debug and troubleshoot data issues and performance bottlenecks
- Ensure database code complies with security, privacy, and governance standards
- Document database processes and contribute to data flow diagrams or architecture docs
- Participate in peer code reviews and schema planning discussions
Required Skills and Qualifications
Hard skills
- Proficiency in SQL and procedural extensions (e.g., T-SQL, PL/SQL)
- Experience with relational database systems like SQL Server, PostgreSQL, or Oracle
- Knowledge of normalization, indexing strategies, and query optimization
- Familiarity with version control tools and Agile development workflows
- Experience building ETL scripts or using tools like SSIS, dbt, or Informatica
Soft skills
- Strong analytical and logical thinking
- Clear written and verbal communication
- Detail-oriented with a focus on code maintainability
- Collaborative and able to adapt to shifting business needs
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, or related technical field
Certifications
None required, but recommended certifications include Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Developer and Oracle PL/SQL Developer Certified Associate.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting large-scale transactional or reporting systems
- Familiarity with NoSQL or hybrid database models
- Exposure to data warehousing, data lakes, or business intelligence platforms
- Background in DevOps or CI/CD for data pipelines
National Average Salary
Database developer salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Position is:
$123,456
Sample Job Description Templates for Database Developers
SQL Database Developer
Position Overview
An SQL database developer designs and builds the core logic that powers relational databases. They create stored procedures, functions, and views to support application development, ensure data integrity, and enhance query performance within structured environments.
Responsibilities
- Develop and optimize T-SQL or PL/SQL procedures, views, and triggers
- Create and maintain database schemas to support application logic
- Collaborate with development teams to support API or back-end data interactions
- Tune queries and indexes for performance and scalability
- Implement data validation, constraints, and referential integrity rules
- Document database structure and processes for team use
Requirements
Hard skills
- Proficiency in SQL Server, Oracle, or PostgreSQL
- Strong understanding of relational modeling and normalization
- Experience with indexing strategies and execution plan analysis
Soft skills
- Analytical thinking and strong problem-solving
- Detail-oriented approach to code and testing
- Effective cross-team communication
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
Certifications
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Developer (recommended)
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting high-throughput transactional systems
- Familiarity with CI/CD tools for database deployment
ETL Developer
Position Overview
An ETL developer designs, builds, and maintains data pipelines that extract, transform, and load data between systems. They support data warehousing, analytics, and system integration by ensuring clean, reliable, and timely data movement.
Responsibilities
- Design and develop ETL workflows using tools like SSIS, Informatica, Talend, or dbt
- Create transformation logic to cleanse, aggregate, or reformat data
- Integrate data from diverse sources including APIs, flat files, and databases
- Monitor and troubleshoot ETL processes and data quality issues
- Document pipeline logic, dependencies, and schedules
- Collaborate with analysts, engineers, and stakeholders on data mapping
Requirements
Hard skills
- Proficiency with SQL and ETL tools
- Experience with batch and incremental data loads
- Knowledge of scheduling and automation platforms (e.g., Airflow, Control-M)
Soft skills
- Strong logic and data mapping skills
- Collaborative and responsive
- Detail-focused with strong documentation habits
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in data engineering or related field
Certifications
- Informatica Certified Developer, dbt Fundamentals (recommended)
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with cloud-based ETL pipelines or data lake ingestion
- Background in source-to-target (S2T) documentation and testing
Reporting Database Developer
Position Overview
A reporting database developer builds and maintains the back-end components that power dashboards, reports, and business intelligence tools. They create optimized views, materialized tables, and summary datasets to support accurate and fast reporting.
Responsibilities
- Design and build SQL-based reporting tables, views, and stored procedures
- Work closely with analysts to understand reporting needs and data sources
- Create performance-optimized queries for BI tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker
- Develop data models for reporting layers and data marts
- Ensure reporting data is timely, accurate, and governed
- Maintain documentation for reporting queries and data dictionaries
Requirements
Hard skills
- Proficiency with SQL and reporting databases (e.g., SQL Server, Redshift)
- Understanding of data modeling for BI/analytics (star/snowflake schema)
- Experience integrating with BI or visualization platforms
Soft skills
- Strong collaboration with non-technical users
- Accuracy- and detail-driven mindset
- Ability to translate business questions into SQL logic
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in information systems, analytics, or similar field
Certifications
- None required
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with semantic layers or data cubes
- Familiarity with KPI design and metadata management
Cloud Database Developer
Position Overview
A cloud database developer builds and manages databases deployed on cloud platforms. They support application and analytics workloads by developing schemas, stored procedures, and automations optimized for cloud-native tools.
Responsibilities
- Design and build cloud-based databases using services like AWS RDS, BigQuery, or Azure SQL
- Write SQL logic, stored procedures, and triggers for cloud-hosted applications
- Automate deployments and migrations using Terraform, CloudFormation, or similar tools
- Monitor performance and cost, tuning configurations for scalability
- Collaborate with developers, DevOps, and cloud architects
- Ensure data encryption, access control, and compliance in cloud environments
Requirements
Hard skills
- Experience with cloud-native databases (Aurora, BigQuery, Cosmos DB)
- Strong SQL development background
- Familiarity with cloud security, scaling, and automation tools
Soft skills
- Adaptability in fast-evolving tech environments
- Strong collaboration and documentation practices
- Proactive problem-solving
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or cloud infrastructure
Certifications
- AWS Certified Database – Specialty or Azure Database Developer Associate (recommended)
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with cloud migration projects
- Familiarity with hybrid architectures and data replication
NoSQL Database Developer
Position Overview
A NoSQL database developer designs and builds non-relational data models that support high-performance and flexible applications. They work with platforms like MongoDB, Cassandra, or DynamoDB to store and access semi-structured or unstructured data.
Responsibilities
- Design document or key-value schemas to support application needs
- Write queries and aggregation pipelines in MongoDB, Cassandra CQL, or similar
- Implement indexing strategies and data sharding for performance
- Collaborate with back-end developers on integration and schema updates
- Monitor database usage, scaling, and security configurations
- Document schema designs and data handling procedures
Requirements
Hard skills
- Proficiency with NoSQL databases such as MongoDB, DynamoDB, or Cassandra
- Knowledge of distributed systems, CAP theorem, and consistency models
- Experience with data modeling for flexible or nested structures
Soft skills
- Logical thinker with system design sensibility
- Strong communication with engineering teams
- Ability to adapt to evolving data needs
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or software engineering
Certifications
- MongoDB Certified Developer, or equivalent vendor certification (recommended)
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience building APIs or microservices that interface with NoSQL stores
- Familiarity with event-driven architectures or real-time data systems