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10 SQL Career Options and Growth Opportunities in 2024

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24th Apr, 2024
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    10 SQL Career Options and Growth Opportunities in 2024

    For any kind of IT-related profession, you must have the required knowledge, skill, experience, and certification in the specified technical expertise and programming language. To gain experience and bag a lucrative salary package in several tech jobs like data engineering, data analysis, etc, you need to gather know-how and hands-on training on one of the most important programming languages - SQL!

    Structured query language (SQL), often pronounced as Sequel, is a programming language, which is used by data experts or IT experts, that helps them to develop databases. SQL knowledge helps experts handle structured data and design and manage data stored in RDBMS (Relational Database Management System). SQL is one of the top 5 core programming languages, which is the gateway to higher earnings, better SQL career opportunities, and collaboration with some of the best organizations.

    So, if you are thinking of getting into one of the best SQL jobs that are in high demand across several industries across the world, you have reached the right place! SQL offers some of the most lucrative jobs related to databases, which attract some of the bulkiest salaries. SQL helps upskill your career, so it is highly recommended to get yourself equipped with the necessary knowledge by enrolling for SQL training online.

    We will understand why it is critical to imbibe SQL in your technical skill profile and some of the top jobs in the world that thrive on SQL knowhow and expertise.

    Here we will investigate some of the most popular professions that you can get into with the help of your SQL knowledge.

    Why is SQL an Essential Skill to Learn? 

    SQL is versatile, intuitive, simple, and a must-have skill. Here are some of the reasons why you must learn and excel in SQL:

    • SQL is widely used in various industries

    SQL is ever-present and is one of the top skills of IT experts hired by top names like Google, Amazon, Apple, Uber, etc. SQL is related to data, so it is not restricted to just the IT industry. Instead, its usage is wide and is spread across all the vital industries across the world.

    • SQL is high in demand

    SQL is powerful and empowering. It is in high demand and is used by experts to process, assess, and analyze big data.

    • SQL is one of the top 5 "Most Used" Programming Languages

    According to the StackOverflow 2021 developer survey, it is one of the top 5 programming languages in the world

    • SQL can handle massive amounts of data and is versatile

    SQL goes beyond Excel or spreadsheets and equips data scientists and analysts to handle substantial amounts of data. It is flexible and versatile and can fit in any role.

    • SQL is a free and open-source language

    It is easy to learn and access. You can opt for the best database course training and enrol in online boot camps to start using SQL at work.

    • SQL is a powerful technical skill that is used in multiple job areas

    Here is an overview of the different job roles, in which SQL is one of the key programming languages. SQL professionals are highly in demand in big companies, and thus they are offered some of the most competitive pay packages and job roles, even at the entry-level.

    Let us look at some of the careers that use SQL, in which it is necessary to be savvy with SQL skills!

    Top Careers with SQL Skills 

    Here are the top SQL career opportunities in various job roles, after you become an SQL-savvy professional:

    • SQL Server Developer 

    An SQL Developer is one who uses SQL as a software developer and a database engineer to build new applications, manipulate data, and initiate database-oriented solutions.

    Roles and responsibilities:

    • The core job role is to ensure that the server is operating functionally 24/7.
    • You would be responsible for writing codes and queries and codes for the server-side
    • In case of any technical hiccups, you should be equipped to resolve any kind of server issue that arises in this SQL developer career path.

    Top Hiring Companies:

    • Primasoft
    • Infinity Tech
    • SDH Systems
    • MultiEdge

    Salary Range:

    The average salary for someone who has a SQL server career is $91,508 per year in the US.

    • .Net Developer

    .NET developers cater to various business requirements and create custom software and online applications.

    Roles and responsibilities:

    • The core role and responsibility revolve around working on a variety of programming languages and the .NET framework.
    • In this SQL server career path, you should be able to improve the functionality and user experience of applications
    • You should also be well-equipped to cater to skills like application testing.

    Top Hiring Companies:

    • Noir
    • ApTask
    • PwC
    • Stefanini IT Solution
    • Comcentric

    Salary Range:

    The salary range of a .Net Developer is as low as $72,835. The average salary is $120,715, and the highest you can earn is $185,771

    • Big Data Engineer

    A big data engineer works with large data sets. As an information technology (IT) professional, you should be able to design, build, test, and maintain complex data processing systems that help you work conveniently with large databases.

    Roles and responsibilities:

    • You should have the expertise to deal with massive volumes of data.
    • After analyzing the data, you should be able to draw insights from the data
    • In this SQL server DBA career path, you must assess the results with the help of the quality team and work around the pros and cons of the output.

    Top Hiring Companies:

    • Google
    • Apple
    • NorthBay
    • Microsoft
    • Palo Alto

    Salary Range:

    The salary varies from $77,000 to $120,269 with an average of 108,659 per year.

    • Quality Assurance Analyst

    Quality Assurance professionals have their core skills in ensuring that any product or application made meets the right industry standards

    Roles and responsibilities:

    • You must build a career in SQL DBA and perform several checks using SQL queries to make sure that top-notch quality is maintained
    • This quality assurance should be during the production and delivery stages of the product

    Top Hiring Companies:

    • Apple
    • Gilead Sciences
    • Amazon.com
    • CVS Health
    • Allstate Insurance

    Salary Range:

    The average salary of quality assurance analyst is $59,500, which can go up to $96,500 annually.

    • Quality Assurance Tester

    Quality Assurance tester has the main job role of continuous testing of products and applications to ensure they meet quality parameters.

    Roles and responsibilities:

    • You must ensure that the output meets industry-level market
    • You should be able to gather random data and keep a stringent check and testing on it using SQL queries.

    Top Hiring Companies:

    • Unicoi State Park and Lodge
    • Apple
    • Kairos Technologies

    Salary Range:

    The salary range varies between $44,907 to $129,700 per year.

    • SQL Server Writer

    The SQL writer is a VSS writer that is trained to work with VSS interaction on the SQL Server.

    Roles and responsibilities:

    • As an SQL writer, you should be aware of the SQL Server installation.
    • The writer is also responsible for writing and maintaining blogs, online and offline content, and documentation
    • Another job role is to train and assist junior SQL developers.

    Top Hiring Companies:

    • Experian
    • S&P Global
    • Accenture
    • Uplight

    Salary Range:

    The salary ranges between $55,000 to $93,500 per year.

    • Business Analyst

    A Business Analyst is the decision maker. He works on data and is a key player in prominent industries like marketing, finance, and product.

    Roles and responsibilities

    • Your job is to retrieve and analyze data
    • In this SQL career path, you must uncover all kinds of actionable insights and meet the ultimate objectives of your business.
    • You must derive logical conclusions
    • You also should be capable enough to work on innovative solutions, budgets, and costs.

    Top Hiring Companies:

    • Wellington Management
    • Moody's Corporation
    • UKG
    • Pacific Gas and Electric
    • McKinsey & Company

    Salary Range:

    The salary ranges between $73,917 to $90,655.

    • Web Designer

    A web designer is someone who has the technical and creative skills, which are required to create websites

    Roles and responsibilities:

    • You should be able to work along the preferences and expectations of your clients
    • You must finish creating websites after generating prototype websites and send them for approval
    • You must work towards taking security measures and removing errors.
    • You need to work alongside web design teams and programmers
    • Lastly, you would be responsible to collect feedback, and reviewing work.

    Top Hiring Companies:

    • SAIC
    • NVIDIA
    • Emergent Software
    • Ledgent Technology
    • National Agents Alliance

    Salary Range:

    The average base salary is $54,157. The highest salary range for a web developer can go up to $73,852 per year.

    • Server Engineer

    A server engineer creates, implements, and maintains a network's server operations

    Roles and responsibilities:

    • The core job role is to ensure that the server is working as planned
    • You should be thorough with digital and physical components.
    • You could also specialize in traditional networking
    • You can also work towards enhancing your cloud-based server engineering abilities.

    Top Hiring Companies:

    • Stefanini IT Solution
    • MindPoint Group, LLC
    • Broadridge
    • Los Angeles County Office of Education
    • Yakshna Solutions

    Salary Range:

    The range falls between $86,992 and $124,353.

    •  Data Warehouse Architect

    A data warehouse architect constructs, designs, and manages databases for companies

    Roles and responsibilities:

    • The core responsibility of this SQL DBA career path is to meet the demands of the client and the leaders
    •  You must maintain a professional collaboration with other departments and understand their requirements
    • You would be responsible for drafting database management solutions
    • Another important job is to ensure that critical user data is only accessible by authorized users.
    • You should be able to work on cloud-based systems
    • You should know how to construct on-premises storage systems.

    Top Hiring Companies:

    • DataStax
    • Automobile Club of Southern California
    • X by 2
    • Leidos
    • DISYS

    Salary Range:

    The salary range varies from $119,185 to $149,086 and can go to $173,303

    •  Database Administrator

    A database administrator is someone who ensures that the database runs effectively and securely.

    Roles and responsibilities

    • As a part of SQL DBA careers, you must keep a close watch on the usage of users' information
    • You must assign proper access rights to critical consumer data
    • You should be thorough with scripting languages to program databases which are also called performance tuning.
    • You should be able to fix issues if the database is not working properly.
    • You also need to back up stored data frequently.

    Top Hiring Companies:

    • City National Bank
    • Fidelity TalentSource
    • Zachary Piper Solutions
    • Cisco Systems
    • Stefanini IT Solution

    Salary Range:

    The average annual salary is $99,393. The normal range is between $87,822 and $111,806 every year.

    •  ETL Developer

    ETL developers oversee extracting and replicating company data and loading it into a data warehousing environment that they have created. They must have both design and programming abilities because they are also in charge of evaluating the system's performance and fixing any issues before it goes live.

    Roles and responsibilities:

    • The main job role of an ETL Developer is to use raw data and make it usable
    • You should be able to process data to maximize its value
    • After working on the data, you should store it in an easily accessible area.
    • As a senior in the field, you can also design and fill advanced data storage systems as per customer demand.
    • You can grow large data warehouses by loading business data into a data warehouse.

    Top Hiring Companies:

    • Fidelity TalentSource
    • ManTech International Corporation
    • Stefanini IT Solution
    • ARS National Services
    • National General Insurance

    Salary Range:

    ETL developer salary is $80,292 on average. The highest salary for ETL developers can range up to $96,150.

    Top Certifications for SQL DBA Careers

    SQL-related certifications can help you acquire skills and expertise in various job roles like data analysts, SQL developer careers, database administrators, or database engineers. For some profiles, like database administration, it is mandatory to get certified in SQL. To build an SQL career, it is important to go for top certifications like

    1. Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals
    2. Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate Certificate
    3. EDB PostgreSQL12 Associate Certification
    4. Knowledgehut SQL training
    5. Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 5.7 Database Administrator Certification

    Not only do you get a preference for a job over others who have not undergone the training, but you are also offered a much hefty package and increment, as compared to a person who has not undergone such SQL certifications.

    Summing Up

    Undoubtedly SQL based jobs bring you good salaries, lucrative offers, and a career in the best companies in the world in every industry. Besides SQL know-how, other factors that matter are your communication skills, technical knowledge, certifications, troubleshooting skills, etc.

    SQL is one of the top programming languages, and to enhance your career growth, you must get equipped with it. Depending on the different professions that are associated with SQL learning, as discussed above, the roles and salary packages vary. However, the path to SQL career-oriented growth is obvious after you have developed your existing skills. So, build a strong SQL portfolio, and try your hands on the best-suited profile and the best pay package!

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    1Do SQL jobs pay well?

    SQL jobs have an impressive pay scale that ranges between $70,000 and $129,500 a year.

    2What is the scope of an SQL career?

    Every industry and organization have a database. Hence, SQL has a massive scope that extends beyond the scope of computer knowledge and reaches industries like Finance, Banking, Healthcare, Education, Retail, the Public Sector, etc.

    3Is SQL a high-demand skill?

    For a programmer and data experts, SQL is a crucial skill, which can easily help them to retrieve data from the available databases. Since the complexity of business databases is increasing, it has become necessary to acquire SQL skills.

    Profile

    Monica Gupta

    Author

    I am Monica Gupta with 19+ years of experience in the field of Training and Development. I have done over 500 Corporate Trainings. I am currently working as a freelancer for several years. My core area of work is Java, C++, Angular, PHP, Python, VBA.

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