Career paths in Database:-

Supuni Sithara Bandara
5 min readOct 16, 2020

When we consider about career paths in Database, there are five main careers.

  1. Database administrator
  2. Database designer
  3. Database engineer
  4. Database programmer
  5. Database developer

First, I am going to talk about database administrator.

1.Database administrator:-

Database administrators (DBAs) use specialized software to store and organize data. Their main duties are;

· Installing and upgrading the database server and application tools.

· Allocating system storage and planning future storage requirements for the database system.

· Modifying the database structure.

· Enrolling users and maintaining system security.

List of skills required to become database administrators are;

Database administrators need at least a bachelor’s degree in information science or computer science. Sometimes these professionals may need a master’s degree in database administration or information technology. All database administrators need fundamental knowledge of structured query language (SQL) and software vendor certifications. The average salary for a Database Administrator (DBA) is $74274.

Then let’s see who are database designers.

2. Database designer:-

The database designer is responsible for defining the detailed database design, including tables, indexes, views, constraints, triggers, stored procedures, and other database-specific constructs needed to store, retrieve, and delete persistent objects. They also considering matters such as; Unique keys, primary and foreign keys, data types, counters, naming, table relationships, search and sort elements, database normalization, search and sort efficiency and data integrity.

The scope of the tasks performed by the database designer role vary depending on the size and complexity of the application development effort and the type of persistent data storage mechanisms used for the project.

The database designer must have a solid working knowledge of the following:

  • Data Modeling, Database design
  • Object-Oriented Analysis and Design techniques
  • System Architecture, including Database and System performance tuning, as well as hardware and network workload balancing
  • Database Administration
  • Understanding of the implementation language and environment

Employers require database designers to have, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field of study. Candidates who also have SQL certification will stand out among other applicants vying for the same jobs, though this is not always a requirement of employment. They also need job experience. The average annual pay for a Database Designer Job in the US is $99484 a year.

Next job carrier in database is database engineer.

3. Database engineer:-

Database engineers, who may work as either applications or systems software developers, are generally employed by computer systems companies to design and monitor complex databases.

They have some duties such as;

· Database engineers are in charge of keeping a company’s database available, secure and stable.

· They must constantly test the data that is coming from the database to ensure it is not corrupted.

· Database engineers integrate new products and software packages into the system, and seeing that the data produced is accurate.

· They may even train other employees in the organization on how to access a database and how to make the best use of its contents.

Database engineers come into their positions in a variety of different paths, but all share an in-depth knowledge of computer programming and data manipulation techniques. There are many technical degrees that can help aspiring engineers develop a working knowledge of databases and computer technologies. Popular undergraduate majors include computer science, information science or mathematics. Since technology is constantly changing, some companies may give more credence to an applicant’s knowledge and professional experience than to their degree, but degrees are often required for entry-level positions. The average salaries of database engineers are $103,000 -$110,000.

The next job is database programmer.

4. Database programmer:-

Database programmers are responsible for maintaining and updating computer programs and databases, and writing new code as requested or required. This role has an emphasis on MS Access, Visual Basic, SQL, and the manipulation of Microsoft Office products to extract information.

These workers use specific database computer languages to write and test new database software; others update or repair existing programs; many are also required to write instructions or teach employees how to use the software. Some work on large projects involving many programmers; such workers are most likely to use tools that help speed up the programming process, allowing them to concentrate on those parts that are unique to a particular programming task.

Following are the main skills that database programmers should have;

  • Ability to perform Data Modelling.
  • Know a database programming language, preferably SQL.
  • Know how to Extract, Transform, Load various data types and sources.
  • Design and test Database plans.
  • Secure your Database.
  • Optimize your database performance.
  • Develop your soft skills.

While some employers require only an associate’s degree, most database programmers have a bachelor’s degree. Most prospective programmers will benefit from a degree in computer science or a closely-related field. Knowing several programming languages is also an important asset, and a computer science degree can give you the skills you’ll need to learn new computer languages.

The average annual pay for a Database Programmer Job in the US is $64330-$84551 a year.

The last job carrier in database is Database developer.

5. Database developer:-

Following responsibilities are related to database developers.

  • Design stable, reliable and effective databases
  • Optimize and maintain legacy systems
  • Modify databases according to requests and perform tests
  • Solve database usage issues and malfunctions
  • Gather user requirements and identify new features
  • Develop technical and training manuals
  • Provide data management support to use

Requirements for being a database developer are;

  • Proven work experience as a Database developer
  • In-depth understanding of data management (e.g. permissions, recovery, security and monitoring)
  • Knowledge of software development and user interface web applications
  • Hands on experience with SQL
  • Familiarity working with .Net Framework, JavaScript, HTML and Oracle
  • Excellent analytical and organization skills
  • An ability to understand front-end users requirements and a problem-solving attitude
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • BSc degree in Computer Science or relevant field

The average salary for a Database Developer is $89607 per year in United States.

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Supuni Sithara Bandara

Undergraduate at University of Kelaniya Software Engineering