Database Developer
Snapshot
Database developers program, implement and coordinate changes to computer databases based on their expertise of database management systems.
Database developers are skilled professionals who design, build, and maintain computer databases. Using their expertise in database management systems, they translate business requirements into efficient and reliable database solutions. This role involves a blend of programming, problem-solving, and collaboration to ensure data integrity, security, and accessibility. It’s a vital role for any organization that relies on data to operate.
- • Designing and implementing new database structures.
- • Modifying existing databases to meet changing business needs.
- • Writing and optimizing database queries and stored procedures.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Information and communications technology professionals — 75 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia and 4 more.
Longest-running shortage: Belgium, 3 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person's chances. It describes a market.
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Could database developer fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Persistence?
Future Outlook for database developer
The outlook for database developer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could database developer change as AI adoption grows?
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- apply information security policies
- test ICT queries
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- use an application-specific interface
- identify customer requirements
- interpret technical texts
Tasks most exposed to automation
- collect customer feedback on applications
- report analysis results
- estimate duration of work
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Digital Technology
A typical day as a database developer
09 09:00 · Morning test ICT queries
10 10:30 · Mid-morning interpret technical texts
12 12:00 · Midday apply information security policies
14 14:00 · Afternoon balance database resources
15 15:30 · Late afternoon create data models
17 17:00 · Wrap-up perform backups
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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use databases
Use software tools for managing and organising data in a structured environment which consists of attributes, tables and relationships in order to query and modify the stored data.
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balance database resources
Stabilise the workload and resources of a database, by controlling the demand of transactions, allocating disk spaces and ensuring reliability of the servers in order to optimise cost and risk ratio.
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use an application-specific interface
Understand and use interfaces particular to an application or use case.
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identify customer requirements
Apply techniques and tools, such as surveys, questionnaires, ICT applications, for eliciting, defining, analysing, documenting and maintaining user requirements from system, service or product.
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write database documentation
Develop documentation containing information about the database that is relevant to end users.
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collect customer feedback on applications
Gather a response and analyse data from customers to identify requests or problems in order to improve applications and overall customer satisfaction.
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interpret technical texts
Read and understand technical texts that provide information on how to perform a task, usually explained in steps.
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apply information security policies
Implement policies, methods and regulations for data and information security in order to respect confidentiality, integrity and availability principles.
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report analysis results
Produce research documents or give presentations to report the results of a conducted research and analysis project, indicating the analysis procedures and methods which led to the results, as well as potential interpretations of the results.
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perform backups
Implement backup procedures to backup data and systems to ensure permanent and reliable system operation. Execute data backups in order to secure information by copying and archiving to ensure integrity during system integration and after data loss occurrence.
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estimate duration of work
Produce accurate calculations on time necessary to fulfil future technical tasks based on past and present information and observations or plan the estimated duration of individual tasks in a given project.
data quality assessment
The process of revealing data issues using quality indicators, measures and metrics in order to plan data cleansing and data enrichment strategies according to data quality criteria.
data storage
The physical and technical concepts of how digital data storage is organised in specific schemes both locally, such as hard-drives and random-access memories (RAM) and remotely, via network, internet or cloud.
database development tools
The methodologies and tools used for creating logical and physical structure of databases, such as logical data structures, diagrams, modelling methodologies and entity-relationships.
database management systems
The tools for creating, updating and managing databases, such as Oracle, MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server.
query languages
The field of standardised computer languages for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information.
resource description framework query language
The query languages such as SPARQL which are used to retrieve and manipulate data stored in Resource Description Framework format (RDF).
ABAP
The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in ABAP.
AJAX
The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in AJAX.
Ajax Framework
The Ajax software development environments which provide specific features and components that support and guide web applications development.
APL
The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in APL.
ASP.NET
The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in ASP.NET.
- data extraction, transformation and loading tools
See whether this role fits your Career DNA
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Scan to continue on mobilePath to become a database developer
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Bachelor's or equivalent level
Real programmes leading to this occupation, by country.
Certificate in Advanced Database Development
Certificate in Database Systems
Award in Database Development - Introduction
Award in Database Design and Implementation (Computing)
Award in Advanced Database Principles and Distributed Systems
VET Award for Web Development with MySQL and PHP
Award in Core Database Principles
Software Engineering Programme
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does database developer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of database management systems do database developers typically work with?
- While specific systems vary, common examples include MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and NoSQL databases like MongoDB. Proficiency in at least one of these is generally expected.
- I’m considering a career change. What skills are most important for transitioning into database development?
- Strong programming skills (often in languages like SQL, Python, or Java), a solid understanding of database concepts (normalization, indexing, etc.), and analytical problem-solving abilities are crucial. Building a portfolio of projects demonstrating these skills can be very helpful.
- How does the work style of a database developer align with different personality types?
- This role benefits from individuals who are detail-oriented (1.C.5.b), methodical (1.C.5.c), analytical (1.C.1.b), and collaborative (1.C.3.a). A preference for precision and a structured approach to problem-solving (1.C.5.a) are also common traits.
- How much does Database Developer pay in the United States?
- $104,620 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $51,880 to $135,750. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated September 20, 2026 About our data