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Job outlook for sql developers in the United States
Sql developer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected sql developer job growth rate is 21% from 2018-2028.
About 284,100 new jobs for sql developers are projected over the next decade.
Sql developer salaries have increased 10% for sql developers in the last 5 years.
There are over 76,048 sql developers currently employed in the United States.
There are 80,751 active sql developer job openings in the US.
The average sql developer salary is $88,505.
Are sql developer jobs in demand?
Sql developer job and salary trends over time
Sql developer jobs over time
Sql developer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76,048 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 70,914 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 33,317 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 66,446 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 62,497 | 0.02% |
Average sql developer salary over time
Sql developer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $88,505 | $42.55 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $85,589 | $41.15 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $83,651 | $40.22 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $82,174 | $39.51 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $80,793 | $38.84 | +1.9% |
Sql developer jobs by state
Most common states for sql developers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 424 | 61% |
| 2 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 237 | 22% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,777 | 21% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 125 | 20% |
| 5 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 327 | 17% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 125 | 17% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,081 | 16% |
| 8 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 989 | 16% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 907 | 16% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 824 | 15% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 479 | 15% |
| 12 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 303 | 15% |
| 13 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 156 | 15% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 597 | 14% |
| 15 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 421 | 14% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 192 | 14% |
| 17 | Delaware | 961,939 | 138 | 14% |
| 18 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 124 | 14% |
| 19 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,200 | 13% |
| 20 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 985 | 13% |
Most common cities for sql developers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severn | 2 | 5% | $92,127 |
| 2 | Naperville | 4 | 3% | $84,416 |
| 3 | Charlotte | 7 | 1% | $85,352 |
| 4 | Orlando | 2 | 1% | $83,347 |
| 5 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $93,981 |
| 6 | Canton | 1 | 1% | $79,041 |
| 7 | Carrollton | 1 | 1% | $87,348 |
| 8 | New York | 5 | 0% | $96,033 |
| 9 | Detroit | 3 | 0% | $80,046 |
| 10 | Atlanta | 2 | 0% | $83,864 |
| 11 | San Antonio | 2 | 0% | $89,926 |
| 12 | Seattle | 2 | 0% | $104,075 |
| 13 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $95,601 |
| 14 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $94,040 |
SQL Developer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of sql developer experts
Nova Southeastern University
Texas A&M University San Antonio
Mount St. Joseph University
University of Richmond
Idaho State University
University of New Haven
University of Central Missouri
Murray State University
What general advice would you give to an SQL Developer?
Dr. Frank Mitropoulos Ph.D.: As you begin your career in Computer Applications, remember that the technology industry highly values adaptability and continuous learning. Commit to staying current with emerging technologies, programming languages, tools, and methodologies. Engage in online courses, attend workshops, and network with other professionals in your field. This dedication to self-learning and the connections you make can lead to job opportunities, mentorship, and collaborations that could shape your future career path.
What SQL Developer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Frank Mitropoulos Ph.D.: Maximizing your salary potential as a new graduate with a Computer Applications degree involves strategic positioning, skill enhancement, and effective negotiation. Following are a few strategies to help increase your salary now and in the future: Specialize in High-Demand Areas: Identify and specialize in high-demand areas that generally offer higher salaries. Build a Strong Portfolio: Develop a portfolio that showcases your skills. A compelling portfolio can strengthen your position during salary negotiations. Develop Soft Skills: While technical skills are essential, soft skills like problem-solving, communication, and leadership hold equal significance. Enhancing these skills can give you an edge in negotiations. Do your Homework and Negotiate: Some industries and locations offer higher salaries. Decide what type of industry you want to focus on and do the background research needed to determine whether your skills will help as leverage. Use your portfolio, certifications, and skill set to strengthen your position. Be ready to articulate your value and how you can contribute to the company's success.
What will help SQL Developers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Frank Mitropoulos Ph.D.: As we look toward the future of careers in Computer Applications, several skills stand out for their growing importance. These skills revolve around specific technologies that are expected to continue to grow and evolve. Technologies related to Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, and Data Science are quickly evolving and being applied across the technology sector. Cloud Computing: Given the widespread adoption of Cloud services, Cloud computing expertise is indispensable. Understanding how to leverage platforms like Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud is crucial to developing scalable, efficient solutions that meet business needs. Artificial Intelligence: AI and Machine Learning are transforming the world. Skills in these areas to solve real-world problems will be even more critical in the future. Cybersecurity: Digital threats are becoming more sophisticated. Safeguarding data, networks, and systems will require encryption, intrusion detection, development, and regulation skills. Data Science: Skills in Data Science will be increasingly sought after as businesses embrace data-driven decision-making. Extracting meaningful insights from extensive datasets and effectively communicating these findings will be essential. Soft skills: Finally, soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and effective communication cannot be overlooked. Adapting, communicating, and leading will be essential for success.
Izzat Alsmadi
Associate ProfessorTexas A&M University San Antonio
Computer Science
What SQL Developer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Izzat Alsmadi: With the quick and rapid evolution language models, they are expected to be great assets in accelerating many jobs. Its important for new graduates to be aware of such models or tools and how they can be used
Programming skills will still be important but languages will be more mature and graduates need to be aware of the different available tools and resources online and how they can be used
Rebecca Allen
Mount St. Joseph University
Special Education And Teaching
What general advice would you give to an SQL Developer?
Rebecca Allen: AI, for sure. I have heard it said that AI might not replace humans, rather humans who know how to use AI well may replace humans who don't.
Ahmed Temani
Senior InstructorUniversity of Richmond
Computer/Information Technology Administration And Management
What general advice would you give to an SQL Developer?
Ahmed Temani: A lot of the buzz is about using chatbots to improve coding efficiency. However, there is a great need for systems level thinking and design as software is deployed across cloud and edge computing devices. Gaining more experience in systems design provides you with additional skills that complement whatever AI-based technology gets deployed.
What SQL Developer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ahmed Temani: This one I'm not sure how to answer as it is too broad. I would say work hard and do quality work, but that seems obvious.
What SQL Developer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nikyra Capson: Don't be afraid of being rejected. If they see a job they want, apply. Even if they don't think they'll get it, still apply. The worst thing that could happen is being told no. Not applying is an automatic no, so they might as well try.
What's a good job out of college for SQL Developers?
Christopher Martinez Ph.D.: The best job you can have out of college is a job you have passion for and will set you up to advance your career. If you have always wanted to work in aerospace, then you should seek out that field from the start. I hate to see students settle for a job because of pay or because they feel they can move to their dream field later.
Dr. Phoebe McLaughlin
Professor of Statistics & Mathematics Assistant Chair of Mathematics Programs Actuarial Science and Statistics Program CoordinatorUniversity of Central Missouri
School of Computer Science and Mathematics
What technical skills for an SQL Developer stand out to employers?
Dr. Phoebe McLaughlin: Most employers we work with look for candidates with experience in programmings such as Excel/VBA, Access/SQL, and others such as R and SAS. It is noted that life insurers are more likely to use SQL and SAS since their data is much bigger, while health insurers typically rely mostly on Excel and VBA.
Dr. Matthew Tennyson Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Computer ScienceMurray State University
Computer Science and Information Systems
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for SQL Developers?
Dr. Matthew Tennyson Ph.D.: A bachelor's degree in computer science is extremely valuable. It has been and continues to be one of the most valuable college degrees a student can pursue. I really think all areas of computing are in demand, but web and mobile computing might be one of the strongest. Some employers do like to see extra certifications in addition to the bachelor's degree. There are literally hundreds of certifications available in the computing industry. They all vary in the required amount of time, effort, and money. I think anything that can set a candidate apart from other candidates is valuable, and that includes any certification. I would not recommend investing thousands of dollars into additional certifications after completing a bachelor's degree, but I don't think it's a bad idea for students to pursue one of the free or lower-cost certifications that are available - especially those students who might not have strong internship experience, extracurricular activities, projects, etc. to put on their resumes. I think anything DevOps related or cloud-based like Amazon's AWS or Microsoft's Azure are especially valuable right now.