31 Honest Database Developer Salaries
Modern businesses run on data, and database developers are responsible for making sure that data is actually usable. From designing efficient schemas to writing complex queries, database developers are the behind-the-scenes pros who help keep applications running and analytics flowing.
But what does the average database developer's salary look like? That's what we're here to discuss. Knowing what to expect (and what to ask for) can help you plan your career and negotiate confidently.
In this post, we’ll break down national salary averages, the factors that impact compensation, and what you can do to boost your earning power as a database developer.
What is a Database Developer?
A database developer is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the systems that store and manage a business' data. Think of them as the architects and engineers of the digital information world—they create the structure that allows data to be stored efficiently and retrieved quickly.
Depending on the company and exact tasks, you might see job listings for:
SQL Developer
Data Engineer
ETL Developer
BI Developer
Database Engineer
Core responsibilities for database engineers can vary, but usually include tasks like:
Designing database schemas and data models
Writing and optimizing SQL queries
Developing stored procedures, triggers, and functions
Creating and maintaining ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes
Collaborating with app developers, analysts, and data engineers
Ensuring data integrity, security, and high availability
Common tools and skills for this role include:
Databases: PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle
ETL Tools: Talend, SSIS, Informatica
Monitoring and Tuning: SQL Profiler, pgAdmin, Redgate tools
We'll explore common tasks and tools in more detail later, but these lists provide a basic overview of the key concepts and platforms.
31 Honest Salaries for Database Developers
To give you a real-world look at what database developers are earning, we analyzed compensation data from trusted sources like Glassdoor, Indeed, Levels.fyi, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. We looked at average base salaries for full-time database developer roles across a range of major tech hubs, mid-sized metros, and smaller cities.
On average, database engineers can expect to earn around $104,648 per year, according to Zippia. But location can have an oversized impact on salary ranges.
The salaries below reflect low-end (entry-level or under-market), average (mid-career), and high-end (senior-level or high-cost-of-living) roles. Keep in mind that experience, certifications, and industry can all influence these numbers—as can demand for specific platforms like Oracle or cloud-native environments like AWS or Azure.
Here’s how database developer's salary breaks down by U.S. city:
City / State | Low-End Salary | Average Salary | High-End Salary |
Seattle, WA | $85,000 | $115,000 | $145,000 |
San Francisco, CA | $95,000 | $125,000 | $160,000 |
New York, NY | $90,000 | $120,000 | $150,000 |
Austin, TX | $80,000 | $108,000 | $135,000 |
Boston, MA | $85,000 | $115,000 | $145,000 |
Denver, CO | $78,000 | $108,000 | $138,000 |
Chicago, IL | $80,000 | $110,000 | $140,000 |
Atlanta, GA | $75,000 | $105,000 | $135,000 |
Los Angeles, CA | $85,000 | $115,000 | $145,000 |
Dallas, TX | $78,000 | $108,000 | $135,000 |
Miami, FL | $72,000 | $100,000 | $130,000 |
Phoenix, AZ | $75,000 | $105,000 | $132,000 |
Portland, OR | $78,000 | $108,000 | $137,000 |
San Diego, CA | $82,000 | $110,000 | $142,000 |
Minneapolis, MN | $76,000 | $106,000 | $134,000 |
Charlotte, NC | $73,000 | $102,000 | $130,000 |
Philadelphia, PA | $76,000 | $106,000 | $134,000 |
Nashville, TN | $70,000 | $98,000 | $125,000 |
Tampa, FL | $70,000 | $96,000 | $122,000 |
Salt Lake City, UT | $72,000 | $100,000 | $128,000 |
Columbus, OH | $70,000 | $98,000 | $124,000 |
Detroit, MI | $72,000 | $100,000 | $126,000 |
Raleigh, NC | $73,000 | $102,000 | $129,000 |
Cleveland, OH | $68,000 | $95,000 | $120,000 |
Kansas City, MO | $70,000 | $97,000 | $123,000 |
Indianapolis, IN | $68,000 | $94,000 | $120,000 |
Orlando, FL | $68,000 | $93,000 | $118,000 |
Tallahassee, FL | $64,000 | $88,000 | $110,000 |
Boise, ID | $66,000 | $90,000 | $115,000 |
Omaha, NE | $65,000 | $89,000 | $112,000 |
Albuquerque, NM | $63,000 | $86,000 | $108,000 |
Database Engineer/Developer Salary Trends and Takeaways
So, what does this salary data tell us? Here are the trends that stood out:
Tech Hubs Pay Top Dollar
No surprise here: cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York offer the highest salaries, with average pay well above $115,000 and high-end salaries pushing $160,000. These markets are also the most competitive and tend to demand experience with enterprise-scale systems and cloud platforms.
Mid-Size Cities are Strong Contenders
Places like Austin, Denver, Chicago, and Boston continue to offer six-figure averages but with a slightly lower cost of living (compared to SF and NYC, at least). These cities are hotspots for startups and SaaS companies that rely heavily on well-structured data.
Smaller Metros Offer Stability But Lower Pay
In cities like Tallahassee, Omaha, and Albuquerque, salaries tend to average just under $90,000. That said, these regions may offer other benefits, such as lower housing costs, reduced burnout, and roles that still provide valuable experience, especially for early-career developers.
The Salary Range Tells a Story
Across the board, entry-level roles typically start around $65,000–$75,000, while senior developers can earn well over $130,000, depending on platform specialization and industry. The wide range reflects the diversity of roles—some developers primarily write stored procedures, while others lead complex, cloud-native data architecture efforts.
Salary Considerations for Database Developers
Factors outside of location can influence how much a database developer earns, including the technologies you specialize in and the industry you work in. Here’s what matters most when it comes to maximizing your compensation:
Platform Specialization
Database developers who specialize in Oracle, SQL Server, or PostgreSQL tend to earn more than generalists working primarily with MySQL. These enterprise-grade platforms are often used in complex, high-stakes environments where employers are willing to pay more for expertise.
Cloud Experience
Cloud-native skills are a serious value booster. If you have experience with Amazon RDS, Google BigQuery, or Azure SQL, you're better positioned for roles in modern DevOps and data engineering teams—especially at companies that are actively migrating to or optimizing in the cloud.
ETL and Integration Skills
Developers who manage data pipelines, data lakes, or warehouse solutions, especially using tools like Talend, SSIS, or Informatica, can often command higher pay. These roles typically involve transforming raw data into usable insights, which is critical for analytics and reporting.
Certifications
Certifications from Microsoft, AWS, or Oracle validate your skills and can boost both your credibility and your paycheck. They’re especially valuable when applying to large enterprises or cloud-focused companies that look for standardized, proven knowledge.
Industry
The type of company you work for also makes a huge difference in pay. Sectors like finance, healthcare, and SaaS often offer higher salaries due to compliance requirements, massive data volumes, and the need for real-time, reliable access to critical information.
How Experience Impacts Salary
Your experience level also plays a major role in determining your salary as a database developer. While skills and certifications matter, employers also value reliability, decision-making, and architecture-level thinking—and these are skills you'll develop over time. Here's how salary tends to scale with experience:
Entry-Level (0–2 Years): $65,000–$80,000
New developers typically focus on writing queries, supporting existing databases, and maintaining legacy systems. You might assist with performance tuning, backup routines, or writing basic stored procedures. These roles offer valuable hands-on experience in real-world data environments.
Mid-Level (3–5 Years): $85,000–$105,000
At this point, developers begin to own parts of the database lifecycle, from schema design and indexing strategies to building out robust ETL pipelines. You may also collaborate more closely with data engineers, analysts, or app developers.
Senior-Level (6+ Years): $110,000–$140,000+
Senior database developers often lead database design, scaling strategies, and optimization efforts. They may also work cross-functionally with DevOps or business intelligence teams and play a key role in architectural decisions—especially in cloud or hybrid environments.
Must-Know Tools for Database Developers
Whether you're optimizing queries or designing cloud-native data systems, the tech stack you know can directly influence your productivity and your paycheck. Here are the tools you'll need to be familiar with as a database dev:
SQL/Data Base Management System: PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle: The core relational databases every developer should know. Most jobs require deep fluency in at least one of these.
Scripting: Python, PowerShell: Useful for automation, data manipulation, and integrating databases with external systems or pipelines.
ETL Tools: Talend, SSIS, Informatica: Essential for moving, cleaning, and transforming data between sources, warehouses, and apps.
Cloud DBs: AWS RDS, Google BigQuery, Azure SQL: As businesses move to the cloud, experience with cloud-native and managed database services is a major plus.
Monitoring: pgAdmin, SQL Profiler, Redgate: Tools like these help you profile queries, monitor performance, track changes, and troubleshoot issues in real time.
Must-Have Certifications for Database Developers
Certifications aren’t just resume fluff. The right ones help validate your skills and can boost your salary potential. If you’re serious about advancing as a database developer, these certs are worth considering:
Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate
Great for developers working in Microsoft ecosystems or hybrid cloud environments. It covers implementation, monitoring, backup, and security of Azure-based databases.
AWS Certified Database – Specialty
Tailored for those managing cloud-native or hybrid database solutions on AWS. It proves your knowledge of RDS, Aurora, DynamoDB, and other Amazon tools, plus high availability and disaster recovery strategies.
Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate
Best for developers working with enterprise Oracle systems. It demonstrates core SQL skills and foundational knowledge of Oracle Database concepts, making it especially useful for roles in finance and government.
PostgreSQL Certification
Ideal for developers in open-source and startup environments. PostgreSQL is widely used across industries, and a certification helps validate your command of schemas, indexing, and performance tuning.
How to Increase Your Salary as a Database Developer
Looking to increase your earning potential? It's not just about getting more time on the job. Here’s how to boost your database developer salary:
Specialize in Cloud-Native or Distributed Databases: Expertise in platforms like Amazon Aurora, BigQuery, or Azure Cosmos DB positions you for high-demand, high-paying roles in cloud-first companies.
Learn Automation and Performance Tuning Techniques: Optimizing queries, automating routine tasks, and improving scalability make you invaluable—and hard to replace.
Earn Certifications Aligned to the Platforms You Use: A cert from Microsoft, AWS, or Oracle signals credibility and often leads to better roles or promotions.
Take On Cross-Functional Responsibilities: Bridging into DevOps, analytics, or data engineering expands your value beyond just database development and opens doors to higher-level roles.
Mentor Junior Developers or Lead Architecture Efforts: Showing leadership skills—whether by mentoring, designing system architecture, or owning major projects—can position you for senior titles and compensation to match.
Conclusion
Database developers play a crucial role in our data-driven world and their compensation reflects that. With salaries ranging from $65,000 to well over $140,000, this career path offers strong earning potential, especially for those who specialize in high-demand platforms, pursue certifications, and keep their skills up to date.
Whether you’re just starting or looking to move into a senior role, staying current with the latest tools, trends, and technologies is key.
Want to level up your database skills and boost your earning power? Consider these courses: Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate (DP-300) Online Training or Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate (1Z0-071) Online Training.
delivered to your inbox.
By submitting this form you agree to receive marketing emails from CBT Nuggets and that you have read, understood and are able to consent to our privacy policy.