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What does a database designer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
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Database designer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real database designer resumes:

  • Devise and manage recommended changes to SalesForce for better business processing practices.
  • Create and modify tables, views and indexes, PL/SQL store procedures, functions and triggers according to business requirement.
  • Perform and troubleshoot data extract into SAS datasets.
  • Translate ETL of data to graphs used to drive business decisions.
  • Enhance existing database screens with useful metric reporting functions using VBA.
  • Apply updates and financial transactions receive from customers, in XML format.
  • Develop stored Pl/SQL procedures to support business logic used by the J2EE applications.
  • Used HTML: :Parser module to parse the data and generate the accurate reports.
  • Provide annotated CRF and compare SAS export mapping from EDC vendor match the SAS database.
  • Design the UI with user experience analysis, and generate the HTML interface with CSS.
  • Design and develop database level triggers to ensure data integrity and data flow in the system.
  • Implement integrity constraints and business rules within a table's design, as well as through triggers.
  • Perform daily Linux system administrator tasks.
  • Create database and windows base applications base on customer requirements.
  • Work with VBA coding for better application interactivity and a more ergonomic interface.

Database designer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 14% of Database Designers are proficient in Database Design, Data Management, and JavaScript. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of Database Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Database Design, 14%

    Inserted metadata into repository for development of physical database design and related documents.

  • Data Management, 10%

    Tested new software/upgrades; wrote PL/SQL scripts for data management listings.

  • JavaScript, 10%

    Created JavaScript events using Document Object Model (DOM) to create dynamic web pages.

  • PL/SQL, 9%

    Created and modified tables, views and indexes, PL/SQL stored procedures, functions and triggers according to business requirement.

  • SAS, 5%

    Review SAS listings and data sets for my studies to ensure data was being collected accurately and per protocol.

  • Microsoft SQL Server, 4%

    Utilized Microsoft SQL server to create database structure and generated random customer data using SQL Joins.

"database design," "data management," and "javascript" are among the most common skills that database designers use at work. You can find even more database designer responsibilities below, including:

Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a database designer to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what database designers do because "dbas must monitor a database system’s performance to determine when action is needed." Additionally, a database designer resume shows how database designers use analytical skills: "enhanced existing database screens with useful metric reporting functions using vba. "

Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform database designer duties is communication skills. Database designers responsibilities require that "most database administrators work on teams and need to communicate effectively with developers, managers, and other workers." Database designers also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "created an access database to catalog the history of company communications and messaging. "

Detail oriented. This is an important skill for database designers to perform their duties. For an example of how database designer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "working with databases requires an understanding of complex systems, in which a minor error can cause major problems." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a database designer: "performed detailed data analysis and generated olap cubes using ssas. ".

Problem-solving skills. For certain database designer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a database designer rely on this skill, as "when database problems arise, administrators must troubleshoot and correct the problems." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what database designers do: "manipulated survey data and database system design to produce results of action evolved profit maximizing business solutions through data exploit and modeling. "

All database designer skills

The three companies that hire the most database designers are:

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Compare different database designers

Database designer vs. Technical team lead

The responsibilities of a technical team lead revolve around overseeing the progress and performance of a technical team, ensuring they are functioning efficiently. They mostly delegate tasks, manage schedules, set goals, produce reports and presentations, respond to correspondence, and coordinate with staff, clients, and other department personnel to ensure accuracy and timeliness for all projects. As the leader, it is crucial to implement the policies and regulations of the company, all while leading and encouraging the staff to reach goals.

The annual salary of technical team leads is $3,168 higher than the average salary of database designers.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between database designers and technical team leads are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like javascript, pl/sql, and unix.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, database designer responsibilities require skills like "database design development," "database design," "data management," and "sas." Meanwhile a typical technical team lead has skills in areas such as "customer service," "patients," "java," and "project management." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Technical team leads earn the highest salaries when working in the automotive industry, with an average yearly salary of $114,182. On the other hand, database designers are paid more in the finance industry with an average salary of $90,891.The education levels that technical team leads earn slightly differ from database designers. In particular, technical team leads are 5.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a database designer. Additionally, they're 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Database designer vs. Systems architect

A systems architect specializes in designing and developing computer networks and systems for company operations. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around conducting research and analysis to identify a company's needs, devising strategies to reach particular goals, improving existing systems, and implementing solutions for optimal processes. A systems architect must also monitor the progress of all implementations, prepare progress reports and presentations, provide technical support as needed, and train new workforce members, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations, including vision and mission.

Systems architect positions earn higher pay than database designer roles. They earn a $16,713 higher salary than database designers per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Database designers and systems architects both require similar skills like "javascript," "pl/sql," and "unix" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that database designer responsibilities requires skills like "database design development," "database design," "data management," and "sas." But a systems architect might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "cloud," "java," "python," and "system architecture."

On average, systems architects earn a higher salary than database designers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, systems architects earn the most pay in the automotive industry with an average salary of $116,386. Whereas database designers have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $90,891.In general, systems architects achieve similar levels of education than database designers. They're 4.6% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Database designer vs. Lead technician

Lead technicians are technicians who oversee the technical needs of a specific project or department. They are usually tenured employees, and their familiarity with the company's technical and technological processes, software, and hardware would be a great advantage in succeeding in their role. Lead technicians are responsible for installing, updating, and maintaining various software and hardware components in the office. They often manage a group of technicians, and they ensure that the group they manage is properly trained and well-versed on the processes of the company. Lead technicians are expected to have strong analytical skills and decision-making skills.

On average scale, lead technicians bring in higher salaries than database designers. In fact, they earn a $3,564 higher salary per year.By looking over several database designers and lead technicians resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "javascript," "pl/sql," and "unix." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, database designers are more likely to have skills like "database design development," "database design," "data management," and "sas." But a lead technician is more likely to have skills like "java," "digital transformation," "customer service," and "database."

Lead technicians earn the highest salary when working in the retail industry, where they receive an average salary of $109,487. Comparatively, database designers have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $90,891.When it comes to education, lead technicians tend to earn similar degree levels compared to database designers. In fact, they're 2.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Database designer vs. Project leader

A project leader is responsible for supervising the team and managing the distribution of tasks to ensure the project's success with the highest efficiency and accuracy. Duties of a project leader include motivating the team, managing the team's needs and concerns, providing effective strategies to improve the team's performance, creating reports, monitoring the team's progress, and maintaining the coordination between team members. A project leader should have exceptional leadership skills to handle the team's operation and identify areas of improvement to deliver excellent results.

Project leaders tend to earn a higher pay than database designers by an average of $11,508 per year.According to resumes from database designers and project leaders, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "pl/sql," "unix," and "etl. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "database design development," "database design," "data management," and "javascript" are skills that commonly show up on database designer resumes. On the other hand, project leaders use skills like project management, work ethic, strong work ethic, and project plan on their resumes.In general, project leaders earn the most working in the professional industry, with an average salary of $118,370. The highest-paying industry for a database designer is the finance industry.In general, project leaders hold similar degree levels compared to database designers. Project leaders are 1.8% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of database designer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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