What Does a SQL Developer Do?
SQL Developers design, develop, implement, and maintain database systems for their employers. These database systems enable organizations to store and efficiently retrieve information. They also create queries and optimize system performance, efficiency, and security. Common tasks include troubleshooting, writing and testing SQL code, creating database schemas, and optimizing database performance.
SQL Developers should be well-versed in data management, programming, scripting, software engineering, general data architecture, and software optimization and security practices. Familiarity with SQL fundamentals and T-SQL, database modeling, and web development is critical. They should also have the ability to work well as a team with other developers, project managers, and stakeholders.
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National Average Salary
SQL developer salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average U.S. salary for a SQL Developer is:
$82,800
SQL Developer Job Descriptions
It’s important to include the right content in your job description when hiring a SQL developer. The following examples can serve as templates for attracting the best available talent for your team.
Example 1
We’re making the world more connected every day. With best-in-class communications, top-tier technology, and innovation, we strive to improve the way our customers interact. In order to do that, we’re looking for an innovative and analytical candidate who can expertly handle our data.
We’re a team of diverse professionals, so if you enjoy working in a collaborative environment with a wide range of people, and you’ve got an inquisitive mind and keen attention to detail, [Your Company Name] could be the perfect workplace!
Typical duties and responsibilities
- Design and implement database programs using Oracle and other tools
- Maintain and test database systems
- Write and optimize in-house applications
- Create and maintain documentation
- Collaborate with team members and stakeholders
- Create procedures and scripts for database migrations
Education and experience
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
- 3 years demonstrable experience in a related position
- Working knowledge of SQL fundamentals
- Working knowledge of T-SQL
- Understanding of web development
- Comprehensive understanding of database modeling
Required skills and qualifications
- Experience with database design, tuning, optimization, data migration, and analysis
- The ability to work in a team environment
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Strong multi-tasking abilities
- Strong analytical skills and problem-solving abilities
Preferred qualifications
- 5+ years experience in related field
- Thorough understanding of dimension tables, modeling, and data warehousing concepts
- Extensive working experience with variable data sources
- Excellent ability writing complex SQL queries within the DW environment
Example 2
ABC Company is seeking a SQL Developer I. This individual is part of a team dedicated to supporting ABC Company’s core claims processing system, related data integrations, vendor extracts and reporting. This individual will perform detailed interface design and development, program, analysis, coding, testing, debugging, documentation, implementation of interfaces and reports, development, and maintenance of data feeds for ABC Company.
Job responsibilities:
- Develops, tests, and maintains data interfaces between business data sources in accordance with departmental and professional standards. Performs analysis, design, coding, and maintenance of data imports and extracts
- Develops, tests, and implements data change scripts to support the claims processing system
- Consults with Business Quality Analysts, Developers, Engineers, DBAs, key departmental stakeholders, and leadership on technical solutions and best practices
- Monitors and audits jobs for performance, recommends changes as appropriate, and advises management on how to improve application environment and system performance
- Maintains effective communication with customers from all departments for system development, implementation, and problem resolution
- Develops and maintains reports and data extracts supporting both internal and external customer’s needs
- Required to take call to assist in resolution of technical problems. May be required to work later hours when system changes are being implemented or problems arise
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Job requirements:
- Requires BS in Computer Science, Business or related technical field or equivalent years of experience may be substituted
- Minimum of 2 years experience in program interfacing required, preferably in a healthcare or health insurance environment
Example 3
ABC Company is looking for a SQL Developer for a leading financial services organization in the (City, State) area. This is a 100% remote position.
Responsibilities:
- You will be responsible for the delivery of critical product requirements and interact with a culturally and technically diverse team, which includes .Net developers, SQL developers, QA, and product management teams
- Responsible for development, enhancement, testing, support, maintenance and troubleshooting/debugging software applications that support business units or support functions
Qualifications:
- At least 5 years of experience in advanced SQL development skills such as complex queries, stored procedures
- Strong experience with ECM – Enterprise Content Management
- Experience using indexes to speed up the SQL queries
- Proven ability in Data Analysis to help digest the data and draw conclusions
- Experience in creating database schemas that represent and support business processes
- Extensive knowledge and hands on experience designing and developing objects and components of relational and non-relational database
- Experience with SSRS report development
- Experience developing ERD (Entity Relationship Diagram) – both physical and logical
- Experience writing reusable functions, views and database objects
- Knowledge of financial services domain is preferred
Example 4
Responsibilities:
- Work closely with both Development and Client Services teams as a SQL Developer (this is not a DBA role) to support the completion of ticket requests from clients and maintain a manageable backlog of development requests
- Partner with client to update carrier feeds, update SQL scripts, and write new SQL queries when necessary for completion
- This individual will be instrumental in driving efficient and scalable development opportunities
- Troubleshoot SQL database issues and prevent ticket build-up
- Assist in implementing new client data loads
- Take part in on-going development sprint cycles, maintaining communication with team on progress
Requirements:
- Deep understanding of SQL including but not limited to experience writing queries, stored procedures, and debugging
- Experience implementing or moving data loads (within a SaaS benefits system is a plus)
- Prior experience in utilizing SQL/T-SQL to facilitate solutions for client ticket requests
- Ability to communicate and collaborate with development and business teams in a remote and supportive environment
- 3 years of experience in a SQL Development role and a bachelor’s degree in a related field ( or equivalent experience)
- Flexibility to work part-time hours
Candidate Certifications to Look For
- SQL Basics for Data Science Specialization. This specialization course attempts to apply the foundational concepts of SQL in a practical format. This is a 4 course, 4-month long beginner class that can be done online.
- Database Foundation 1Z0-006. This is an Oracle Academy taught curriculum, based on career-focused and industry-relevant information. Teaching the basics of database foundations, design, and programming, alongside Express Development foundations. The exam can be taken without the courses, although not recommended.
- MySQL – Analytic Techniques for Business Specialization. This Coursera course aims to touch on several concepts within SQL from a business perspective. Learning business metrics for primarily data-driven companies, and mastering basic data analysis. Candidates will also learn visualization and communication with Tableau, and handling big data.
- Modern Big Data Analysis with SQL Specialization. This beginner-level course will demonstrate that candidates have learned and applied the concepts of SQL within the framework of big data analytics. Candidates can expect to learn everything from foundational big data handling to analyzing, managing, and storing data in clusters and the cloud.
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals. Gaining this entry-level certification from Microsoft will reinforce a candidate’s knowledge and demonstrate their understanding of Azure data services and working with PostgreSQL and MySQL.
- Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate Certification. The Oracle Database certification demonstrates a candidate’s understanding of basic SQL concepts, especially using it to work with the Oracle Database server. Additionally, it will prove their competency in the SQL language, data modeling, tables, and other SQL-related tasks. In order to achieve and obtain this certification, an exam must be passed.
Sample Interview Questions
- What is your experience designing, developing, and maintaining database systems?
- Describe your experience writing and testing SQL code and creating database schemas.
- What is your process for optimizing database performance, including indexing and query optimization?
- What is your approach to database security and reliability?
- What’s your experience implementing security protocols and encrypting data?
- Can you name and explain the different subsets of SQL?
- What is DBMS? What are the different types?
- Can you explain what a table and field are within SQL?
- What are joins?
- What’s a CHAR data type, what about a VARCHAR?
- What’s the difference between clustered and non-clustered indexes?
- What are constraints?
- Can you explain a primary key, unique key, and foreign key?
- Can you briefly describe entities and relationships?
- What’s the difference between Drop and Truncate?
- What does “trigger” mean within the framework of SQL?
- In what ways can a Dynamic SQL be executed?
- What are the various levels of constraints?
- Would you consider yourself a team player?
- What was your most frustrating project? How did you complete it and what was learned?