SQL Database Developer Salary in the United States

How much does a SQL Database Developer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a SQL Database Developer in the United States is $166,766 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $80.

However, a SQL Database Developer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $198,814
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $154,889 to $183,541
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $144,076

Key Factors That Influence SQL Database Developer Salaries

A SQL Database Developer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects SQL Database Developer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a SQL Database Developer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $123,539
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $141,862
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $165,532
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $185,605
  • Expert (over 8 years): $107,589
Levels Salary
Database ... Level SQL Database Developer$123,539
Database ... Level SQL Database Developer$141,862
SQL Datab... Level SQL Database Developer$165,532
Database ... Level SQL Database Developer$185,605
Database ... Level SQL Database Developer$107,589

Top Paying Cities for SQL Database Developers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $210,342
  • San Francisco: $208,039
  • Oakland: $203,655

What Skills Can Increase a SQL Database Developer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • People Management (Mentioned in 3.03% Job Postings): People management refers to the practice of recruiting, training, engaging and retaining employees to optimize their talent and maximize their productivity.
  • AWS (Mentioned in 3.77% Job Postings): Amazon Web Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis.
  • Open Source (Mentioned in 3.07% Job Postings): Open source is a term that originally referred to open source software (OSS). Open source software is code that is designed to be publicly accessible—anyone can see, modify, and distribute the code as they see fit
Skills Demand Percentage
People Management 3.03%
AWS 3.77%
Open Source 3.07%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a SQL Database Developer's salary.

  • People Management: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Open Source: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Experimenting: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
People Management $188,446
13%
Open Source $178,440
7%
Experimenting $175,104
5%

SQL Database Developer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For SQL Database Developer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 43% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, SQL Database Developer positions in Transportation or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view SQL Database Developer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a SQL Database Developer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$200,119$96.020%
Internet$196,784$95.018%
Energy & Utilities$191,781$92.015%
Pharmaceuticals$190,113$91.014%
Aerospace & Defense$186,778$90.012%

SQL Database Developer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a SQL Database Developer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$154,889
Average $166,766/year
$183,541
$12,907
Average $13,897/month
$15,295
$2,979
Average $3,207/week
$3,530
$74
Average $80/hour
$88
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $183,541 $15,295 $3,530 $88
Average $166,766 $13,897 $3,207 $80
25th Percentile $154,889 $12,907 $2,979 $74

Most common benefits for SQL Database Developer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for SQL Database Developer

Here are companies hiring for SQL Database Developer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next SQL Database Developer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current SQL Database Developer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about SQL Database Developer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for SQL Database Developer?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for SQL Database Developer roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst