How to hire a database programmer/analyst

How to hire a database programmer/analyst, step by step

Here's a step-by-step database programmer/analyst 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 programmer/analyst job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new database programmer/analyst
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The database programmer/analyst hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect database programmer/analyst also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents database programmer/analyst salaries for various positions.

   Type of Database Programmer/Analyst	Description	Hourly rate
   Database Programmer/Analyst	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.	$31-54
   Analyst Lead	The duties of an analyst lead depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis, coordinating with different departments to gather leads and data, reviewing findings, and producing reports and presentations for the stakeholders and other higher-ranking officials... Show more	$35-58
   Test Analyst	The duties of a test analyst depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. In the information technology setting, a test analyst is responsible for testing computer software or hardware to ensure its quality before being released in the market... Show more	$26-42

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Database Design
   • Oracle Sql
   • PL/SQL
   • Microsoft SQL Server
   • JCL
   • Java
   • Access Database
   • HTML
   • Data Analysis
   • Triggers
   • JavaScript
   • Web Application
   • Relational Databases
   • C++

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain, debug, and manage PC base manufacturing/planning/costing systems to ensure accurate forecasting, scheduling, and production planning.
   • Assist in building architecture of marketing reporting system base on SSRS packages.
   • Use pattern recognition to write Java code to correct anomalies in source data.
   • Apply business rules to develop procedures using PL/SQL to abstract data from different sources.
   • Explore the use of Java and OOAD methodologies (Booch, Rumbaugh, Jacobsen).
   • Build efficient SSIS packages for processing fact and dimension tables with complex transforms and type 1 and type 2 changes

   More database programmer/analyst duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your database programmer/analyst job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A database programmer/analyst can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, database programmer/analysts' average salary in oklahoma is 33% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level database programmer/analysts 42% less than senior-level database programmer/analysts.
   • Certifications. A database programmer/analyst with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a database programmer/analyst's salary.

   Average database programmer/analyst salary

   $86,091yearly

   $41.39 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level database programmer/analyst salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average database programmer/analyst salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$107,074	$51
   2	New Jersey	$98,425	$47
   3	Massachusetts	$95,954	$46
   4	Washington	$92,494	$44
   5	Illinois	$90,575	$44
   6	Texas	$89,401	$43
   7	New York	$87,782	$42
   8	Nebraska	$87,181	$42
   9	Hawaii	$83,820	$40
   10	North Carolina	$81,093	$39
   11	District of Columbia	$80,720	$39
   12	Florida	$79,100	$38
   13	Wisconsin	$78,481	$38
   14	Pennsylvania	$78,475	$38
   15	Maryland	$78,156	$38
   16	Ohio	$76,701	$37
   17	Georgia	$76,517	$37
   18	Utah	$76,305	$37
   19	Virginia	$75,884	$36
   20	Indiana	$74,520	$36

   Average database programmer/analyst salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	STEC	$116,970	$56.24
   2	UCI Health	$114,087	$54.85
   3	BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina	$107,267	$51.57
   4	Medstar Health	$106,086	$51.00
   5	Change Healthcare	$106,057	$50.99
   6	Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan	$105,323	$50.64
   7	John Wiley & Sons	$103,127	$49.58
   8	Beacon Health Options	$102,040	$49.06	5
   9	Ellis Medicine	$99,644	$47.91
   10	Atrius Health	$96,923	$46.60
   11	Orion Systems Integrators	$94,817	$45.59
   12	Envestnet	$94,331	$45.35	3
   13	Infosmart Technologies	$94,205	$45.29
   14	Georgetown University	$94,118	$45.25	2
   15	Idexcel	$92,896	$44.66	7
   16	Emdeon Business Services LLC	$90,445	$43.48
   17	Health Research, Inc.	$89,887	$43.21
   18	University of Central Florida	$88,873	$42.73
   19	Summit Mortgage	$88,835	$42.71
   20	GreenwichPub.Schls.	$87,007	$41.83	4

4. Writing a database programmer/analyst job description

   A database programmer/analyst 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 programmer/analyst job description:

   Database programmer/analyst job description example

   BASIC FUNCTION:
   
   Responsible for clinical and business report writing using a variety of reporting tools including Tableau, Crystal Enterprise reporting tools and SQL Server. Leads and coordinates medium scale initiatives and projects. Works under general supervision Provides business intelligence tools and data by developing reports and reporting systems using internal application and 3rd party reporting tools. Works independentlywith minimal supervision to effectively scope, plan for, and deliver on customer requests. Takes ownership of high complexity issues. Highly responsive to customers and shows an aptitude for the development and documentation of customer requirements.
   
   SECTION II
   
   EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
   
   Required
   

   • Bachelor's degree in Information Services, Business, Healthcare or related field.
   • Two or more years of experience in Information Services, Business Services, Healthcare or related field.

   
   OR
   

   • Five or more years of experience in Information Services, Business Services, Healthcare or related field.

   
   Preferred
   
   Previous experience with Soarian or Allscripts electronic health records.
   
   SECTION III:
   
   RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION:
   

   • Collaborate with end user customers to identify reporting needs. We often act as the application report leads.
   • Analyze report requests and document requirements.
   • Identify and validate the appropriate technological solutions for various reporting needs.
   • Develop design specifications for new reports.
   • Create new reports using report writing tools such as Crystal reports, SQL, SF reporting tools and DSS data warehouse data.
   • Perform validation and testing for new and legacy reports.
   • Troubleshoot, optimize, modify and maintain existing reports as needed.
   • Review upgrade documentation related to reporting features and released reporting content, and determines how to implement changes.
   • Configure and maintain HI report distribution system.
   • Communicate effectively with end-users to provide training, determine reporting requirements, and provide status updates.
   • Provide technical support for troubleshooting and fixing of reporting applications and systems.
   • Perform Data check-out and validation after an upgrade or service pack event.
   • Establish and Maintain an appropriate support presence with key customers.
   • Educate end users on the DSS and SF reporting system use.
   • Subject matter expert on DSS and SF data structures and content. Able to link data in back end reporting tables to front end data gathering tools( Front end Graphic user interfaces)
   • Define customer requirements for changes to reports that require back end work.
   • Provide Ad-hoc and Monthly reports to customer departments, using predefined report templates.
   • Assist end users with analysis of data as needed.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find database programmer/analysts for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your database programmer/analyst job on Zippia to find and recruit database programmer/analyst 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 programmer/analysts, 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a database programmer/analyst 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 programmer/analyst

   Once you've found the database programmer/analyst candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new database programmer/analyst. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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