How to hire a database engineer

How to hire a database engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step database engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a database engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new database engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a database engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a database engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a database engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a database engineer that fits the bill.

   This list presents database engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Database Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Database Engineer	Database administrators (DBAs) use specialized software to store and organize data, such as financial information and customer shipping records. They make sure that data are available to users and are secure from unauthorized access.	$34-72
   Salesforce Administrator	A salesforce administrator is considered the gatekeeper for the marketing data and sales of their employer. The administrators create each user account and identify the proper data access level based on the role of the employees within the company... Show more	$31-54
   SQL Server Developer	A structured query language (SQL) server developer is a specialist who is tasked to develop and maintain systems to store, organize, and access databases. With their experience in data architect and management, SQL server developers can develop and scale SQL databases based on the needs of their organization... Show more	$34-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Troubleshoot
   • Java
   • AWS
   • Database Administration
   • Unix
   • Linux
   • Database Design
   • Oracle Sql
   • Database Systems
   • ETL
   • DBA
   • Debugging
   • Perl

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create PHP page for loan officers to add to their contact list for leads which interact with the MySQL database.
   • Develop Perl and awk scripts to validate the various data on LINUX base system.
   • Develop procedures; UNIX shell, SQL, and Perl scripts; and software programs for database processing.
   • Trace AutoTrader Latino inventory process through the ETL and refresh to identify, troubleshoot, and correct code problems.
   • Develop, implement, and execute a quality assurance program and quality control standards for all ETL (SSIS) activities.
   • Pioneer mainframe development the on PC.

   More database engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your database engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A database engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, database engineers' average salary in south carolina is 42% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level database engineers earn 52% less than senior-level database engineers.
   • Certifications. A database engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a database engineer's salary.

   Average database engineer salary

   $104,648yearly

   $50.31 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level database engineer salary

   $72,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average database engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$146,782	$71
   2	Washington	$129,077	$62
   3	Arizona	$107,269	$52
   4	New York	$101,255	$49
   5	Colorado	$99,468	$48
   6	New Jersey	$99,264	$48
   7	Texas	$98,492	$47
   8	Illinois	$97,730	$47
   9	Virginia	$94,856	$46
   10	Ohio	$93,080	$45
   11	Maryland	$90,997	$44
   12	Michigan	$89,894	$43
   13	Missouri	$89,482	$43
   14	District of Columbia	$89,405	$43
   15	North Carolina	$88,029	$42
   16	Minnesota	$86,947	$42
   17	Massachusetts	$86,570	$42
   18	Georgia	$85,312	$41
   19	Florida	$83,542	$40

   Average database engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Airbnb	$170,173	$81.81	11
   2	Meta	$165,813	$79.72	974
   3	Apple	$158,328	$76.12	385
   4	PayPal	$156,737	$75.35	18
   5	eBay	$155,031	$74.53	15
   6	StubHub	$153,032	$73.57	117
   7	Google	$151,672	$72.92	516
   8	Chewy	$149,791	$72.01	3
   9	Barnes & Noble	$149,517	$71.88	2
   10	Pacific Investment Management Company LLC	$149,075	$71.67	3
   11	StumbleUpon	$148,928	$71.60
   12	Cloudflare	$148,240	$71.27	50
   13	Rubicon Global	$146,927	$70.64
   14	Amazon	$143,685	$69.08	337
   15	Angie's List	$142,867	$68.69
   16	Cboe Global Markets	$142,635	$68.57	8
   17	Kabbage	$142,326	$68.43
   18	Hy-Vee	$141,429	$67.99
   19	Saks	$141,247	$67.91
   20	Walmart	$140,238	$67.42	235

4. Writing a database engineer job description

   A database engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a database engineer job description:

   Database engineer job description example

   Time Type: Full time
   Minimum Clearance Required to Start: TS/SCI with Polygraph
   
   Employee Type: Regular
   
   Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 10%
   
   Type of Travel: Local
   
   CACI's elite team develops advanced systems for the US Government and is seeking a highly talented Database Engineer to join our select fast-paced, agile DIA Analysis & Production (A&P) team in our Sterling, VA location.
   
   You will be a member of a team of dedicated and collaborative engineers focused on delivering mission capabilities based on analyst needs. You will participate in all aspects of agile software engineering activities, contribute your ideas, design and implement new capabilities, resolve operational issues, and work directly analysts to ensure the software solution meets user needs. You'll iterate on successful new capabilities and recommend scrapping capabilities which do not provide user value.
   
   Why You Should Join Our Mission
   
   Would you like a role where you are the indispensable source of expertise? Would you like to be able to show your commitment to excellence in defense of the Nation having have both regional and global impact? Would you like to be part of a team focused on providing unrivaled defense intelligence capabilities exceeding customer expectations? If so, then look no further than the CACI team! The mission is to optimize analytic capabilities and resources to enhance the mission outcomes in support of enterprise, strategic initiatives. We seek to optimize and modernize analytic-enabling software capabilities and data to deliver decision making advantage to senior policymakers, front-line workers, and planners. We support the mission by providing timely and effective analytic capabilities to our users; enabling rapid development and accreditation of mission applications; informing policy; and encouraging engagement across the enterprise for program requirements and data integration. CACI works closely with analysts across the enterprise to identify analytic needs and implement solutions that enhance analysis to address real-world events.
   
   As a Database Engineer you will:
   Provides technical expertise for database design, development, implementation, information storage and retrieval, data flow and analysis Develop relational and/or Object-Oriented databases, database parser software, and database loading software like Hadoop, Accumulo, NiFi, Twister, Storm, etc. Project long-range requirements for database administration and design Responsible for developing a database structure that fits into the overall architecture of the system under development and has to make trades among data volumes, number of users, logical and physical distribution, response times, retention rules, security and domain controls The DBE works primarily at the front end of the lifecycle-requirements through system acceptance testing and Initial Operational Capability (IOC) Develop requirements from a project's inception to its conclusion for a particular business and IT subject matter area (i.e., simple to complex systems) Assist with recommendations for, and analysis and evaluation of systems improvements, optimization, development, and/or maintenance efforts Translate a set of requirements and data into a usable document by creating or recreating ad hoc queries, scripts, and macros; updates existing queries, creates new ones to manipulate data into a master file; and builds complex systems using queries, tables, Open Database Connectivity and database storage and retrieval using Cloud methodologies
   
   You'll Bring These Qualifications:
   You are a U.S. Citizen with active Top Secret/SCI clearance (CI Poly preferred). Capitalize on your specific knowledge and prior experience, training, and education in any number of software / systems related areas of your expertise. Have a great attitude, enjoy working with talented coworkers who support each other, and demonstrate an aptitude to learn and continuously improve. Have passion and a track record of delivering results in a fast paced, dynamic environment. Demonstrate accountability to ensure we meet the highest standards. Be steadfast, timely, and efficient, and take personal responsibility for action and outcomes.
   
   What We Can Offer You:
   
   BITS, a CACI Company, offers very rewarding and unique benefits, which equates to 50% of compensation on TOP of your base salary! The first part is a tax-qualified profit-sharing retirement plan, to which BITS annually contributes up to 25% of your base salary (not in excess of applicable IRS limits) to your retirement account. The second component consists of BITS' Individual Benefit Account (IBA), which is used for premiums, medical reimbursements, dependent care, education and Paid Time Off (PTO) policy. Both components of the BITS benefit package are paid for by BITS, in addition to your base salary and potential performance bonuses.
   
   Company Overview: At CACI, you will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact by providing information solutions and services in support of national security missions and government transformation for Intelligence, Defense, and Federal Civilian customers. CACI is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.
   
   As a federal contractor, CACI is subject to any federal vaccine mandates or other customer vaccination requirements. All new hires are required to report their vaccination status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find database engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any database engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level database engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your database engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit database engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit database engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a database engineer applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new database engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the database engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new database engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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