Database Developer Job Description, Skills, and Salary Scale
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a database developer. Feel free to use our database developer job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a database developer.
Who is a Database Developer?
A Database Developer is also known as a database designer or programmer who is solely responsible for planning, developing, and troubleshooting databases. The security and integrity of database performance is the duty of a database developer. In order words, database developers are responsible for designing, programming, and implementing of latest databases as well as modifying exciting databases for platform updates and changes in user needs. Database administrators guarantee that databases are well managed and regulated to avoid any error whenever an authorized individual wants to access them.
Database Developer’s work setting is an It department of large organizations or individual IT firms where they have access to the company’s data and process information for digital infrastructure. Database developers abreast themselves with operations of old legacy data systems to harmonize them with new databases, resolving bugs and errors. They also provide technical support. Draft training manuals and they guide database administrators on the best practices for database maintenance. Their main responsibility is to make it very convenient for a database users to have access to information and preserve the company’s information for future reference
The daily duties of a database are collaborating with others to produce data models and program database functions. They also schedule a team meeting with colleagues to discuss and deliberate on the various status of the design tasks and assign duties to members of the development team. They also spend their time researching new software solutions and how they can effectively apply them to their network design and enhance the database’s operations.
A good database developer is responsible for assessing a client’s demands and using the appropriate database software tools to solve their problems. Clients will always come with pressing needs and seeking solutions; a good database developer must be analytical and creative. They should be able to comprehend how a business function by giving keen importance to database development task to achieve their client’s goals. Accomplished database developers are much more focused and they can easily recognize errors in the overall network performance or maybe when a stray line appears in their software; it is their responsibility to eliminate bugs and correct user errors. Database developers are goal-oriented and they accept and apply feedback consecutively they are also personally attached to implementing database tools through the testing phase.
The work schedule of a database developer is on weekday hours such as from 9 am to 5 pm in an office setting. They can sometimes work for more than 40 hours a week base on the demands of the client. Database developers can also work from home for companies in their location. They are highly sought-after because it is very difficult for employers to get highly qualified ones and the world is becoming digital. There is an emerging trend ongoing called database-as-a-service, which involves a third party working over the Internet et such as cloud computing companies. Smaller companies cannot afford to have their IT department and they will prefer developers who can work remotely.
Database Developer Job Description
Below are the database developer job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a database developer job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a database developer include the following:
- Design database systems: The core responsibility of a database developer is to evaluate the needs of an organization and produce an efficient database system that correlates with its needs and specifications. This process includes collecting data, analyzing data, designing algorithms, drafting flowcharts, and executing code for logic developed through algorithms and flowcharts.
- Test databases: a good database developer must be able to conduct thorough testing procedures to ensure that there are efficient operations of a database and also make it error-free. For instance, if there appears to be an error during code runs; it must be corrected promptly and the code also needs to be tested. This involves the process of troubleshooting any potential problems, creating, documenting, and submitting reports of database status.
- Develop database documentation: after a database is developed, a database developer must draft documentation about the system and put together an operational manual to guide users or clients. This documentation must capture information about the overall new changes or improvements to the databases as they are executed.
- Work with a group of experts: Database developers usually work with front-end developer’s teams to integrate modules. After this procedure, integrated code must be tested and any errors identified must immediately be fixed.
- Provide support and guidance to application developers
- Write and deploy SQL patches
- Pay attention to detail at all times
- Interact with client representatives and businesses analyst to develop database solutions and meet business requirements
- Process work accurately to meet up with deadlines
- Make recommendations for system improvement proactively and regularly
- Assist with schema design, code review, SQL query tuning
- Install, tune, execute and upgrade DBMS installations
Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field
Proven years of experience in a programming languages such as PL/SQL coding
Ability to design and implement business processes into a functional and efficient code
Proven years of experience in administering, managing, and tuning databases
Familiarity with Oracle RAC, SQL reserve, or MySQL
Good understanding of data and schema standard concept
Good understanding of database design, implementation, troubleshooting, and maintenance
Critical thinker and problem-solving skills
Team player
Good time-management skills
Team player
Great interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to recognize the relationship between data elements
Proven experience with project management
Essential Skills
There are some basic skills and competencies database developers must have and they are:
- Good communication skills: this is a core skill database developers must have to be efficient in their duties. The position requires working with clients, and colleagues across the IT department and so it is highly paramount for database developers to be able to communicate both verbally and written in order not to be misinterpreted. They have to specify a client’s needs and remember addition, writing skills will also help the database developer to have proper documentation.
- Sound accuracy and logic: a good database developer must be accurate to develop databases logically from the scratch. Accuracy is very important to deliver the best to clients. In every accuracy of a database developer; he or she should be able to meet up with the deadline.
- Interpersonal and Listening Skills: this is very crucial because database developers need to build a relationship with clients so that they can keep patronizing them. More so, they need to pay keen attention to the client’s demands in order not to misunderstand a client’s needs. To pay keen attention; they need a good listening ear.
- Team Spirit: A database developer work with a team of front-line developers to integrate a module. He or she must be able to collaborate with another team of experts to deliver the best to a client; he or must be able to contribute his quota to enhance the overall team experience.
- Strong analytical skills: this involves analyzing exciting databases and clients’ needs going forward with loping effective systems.
- Comprehending programming language: Database developers work behind the scene and it is the responsibility of a good developer to have a good command of concepts of other front-end programming languages.
How to Become a Database Developer
- Acquire a Bachelor’s Degree in Information technology or a Related Field
To become a database developer. You must have a degree in information technology, computer science, computer programming, or a related field to gain a good entry into database development. The coursework includes classes in several specific database packages and programming languages such as Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, SQL, and ETL.
Enroll for a Postgraduate Degree in Information Communication Technology
If you did not study a course like information technology and you want to be a database developer; you can enroll for a postgraduate degree which usually takes a year to complete. This postgraduate degree will give you the first-hand opportunity to know the rudiments of a database developer.
- Acquire a Master’s Degree
You can enroll for a Master’s Degree in Information Communication Technology or Cyber security to have more knowledge as a database developer. Some employers give preference to candidates with a Master’s degree especially when the role is managerial. A master’s degree usually takes four semesters and eighteen months to complete. You can enroll for an academic or professional master’s. After enrolling for your master’s degree, you can further your studies by proceeding with your doctorate program.
Earn Certifications
You can acquire a certification after you have acquired your degree to enable you to stand out in the job market. You can acquire a certificate in database management and start working as a database developer before enrolling for your degree. There are different numbers of database certifications offered by IBM. Most of these certifications are the most popular that the best database developers and they are:
Microsoft Certified Database Administrator(MCDBA)
Microsoft MSCE Certified Data Management and Analytics
Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: Data Management and Analytics
Oracle Database Certifications
IBM Certified Database Administrator-DB2
- Enroll for Internship
Most employers will not hire a novice as a database developer; after enrolling for your degree then you can proceed by enrolling for an internship. You can enroll for this internship in an ICT firm in your school or IT organization to gain first-hand experience. This internship can be voluntary or paid. This internship will help co acquire excellent skills and experience that will make you stand out in the job market.
- Build a Network of Professionals in Information Technology
It is highly paramount for you to build a network of professionals to build a successful career. This is very necessary because in the field of computer science; technology is highly dynamic. Being an active member of a diverse industry association can open the door for the opportunity to stay updated, attending seminars, conferences, conventions, and other educational programs that can be afforded by such organizations. Some of the trade associations paramount to database administration include the following: International Association of Computer Science and Information Technology and DAMA International.
- Stay Updated with the Emerging Trend in Information Technology Industry
Database developers must familiarize themselves with the current innovations in computer programing and database frameworks because this industry is dynamic. It is necessary to keep updated about the latest announcement and innovation from the primary database management framework providers such as IBM, Microsoft, and Oracle, and typical programming languages like SQL are a prudent practice. Some professional certifications may also require renewal or updating products as technology keeps on evolving.
- Draft your resume
Draft your resume to start applying for jobs. A database developer’s resume usually highlights the skills and experience he or she has in software architecture and database management. Candidates should showcase their experience in routing protocols, DNS implementation, and standard networking practices. Strong applicants will indicate their experience with data security and other types of cyber security methods they have utilized to protect clients’ data in the previous times. Look for information on the size of network each candidate possesses to access if they have the experience to meet your organization’s data needs.
- Apply for open positions
A career as a database developer is highly lucrative; apply for open positions available in IT firms or Tech companies. You can also make contacts with friends and families to help you secure a job. Other measures to take can be to contact your alma mater if there is an open vacancy and be very ready to take an open placement to lunch your career.
Where can a Database Developer Work?
- IT companies or firms
- Academic Institutions
- Telecommunication Companies
- Banks
- Multinational Companies
- Government Organizations
- Remote jobs
Database Developer Salary Scale
- In the United States, database developers earn an average salary of $75,520 according to Payscale.com. As they continue to develop their skills and expertise, their earnings can grow considerably. Entry-level database developers earn a salary of $61,183, while those with over two decades of experience can earn over $100,000 on average.
- In Nigeria, a person working as a database developer earns 340,000NGN per month. Salaries from 163,000NGN to 534,000NGN, the salary will increase over time as they continue to acquire more experience.