Database Engineers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of database engineers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for database engineers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of database engineers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for database engineers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Database Engineers?
Do database engineers need a degree? What kind of experience do database engineers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for database engineers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Database Engineers
Jobs Postings for Database Engineers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 62,571 (46%)
- No Education Listed: 49,706 (37%)
- Master's degree: 13,808 (10%)
- High School or GED: 6,121 (5%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 2,363 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of database engineers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 46% of positions. In 37% of job listings no education level was listed and in 10% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Database Engineers
Jobs Postings for Database Engineers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 4,541 (6%)
- 2-3 Years: 19,854 (25%)
- 4-6 Years: 32,604 (40%)
- 7-9 Years: 14,409 (18%)
- 10+ Years: 9,191 (11%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for database engineers. In 40% of job postings for Database Engineers, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 25% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 18% of job postings for database engineers.
What Kind of Degree Do Database Engineers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for database engineers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 21 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective database engineers, and in 2023 a total of 249,529 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective database engineers.
Top Degree Programs for Database Engineers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Database Engineers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 72,432 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 62,365 |
| Information Technology. | 35,591 |
| Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance. | 29,839 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | 12,850 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 72,432 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 62,365 |
| Information Technology. | 35,591 |
| Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance. | 29,839 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | 12,850 |
| Management Information Systems, General. | 10,110 |
| Data Science, General. | 4,387 |
| Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration. | 3,494 |
| Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other. | 3,190 |
| Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst. | 2,835 |
| Medical Informatics. | 2,611 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, Other. | 2,301 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other. | 2,000 |
| Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician. | 1,927 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Other. | 1,762 |
| Cloud Computing. | 730 |
| Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster. | 682 |
| Management Information Systems and Services, Other. | 318 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications, Other. | 72 |
| Data Science, Other. | 29 |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other. | 4 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Database Engineers
Leverage technology to align with business goals with Franklin’s 100% online M.S. in Information Systems, which can be completed in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in Cybersecurity 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in IT Leadership 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in Learning Technology 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Build your business knowledge while you gain practical understanding of database management, information security and IT-project management with Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Information Technology.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 12
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Database Engineers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by database engineers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for database engineers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Database Engineers
Based on 119,011 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Database Engineers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| SQL (Programming Language) | 60,343 | 51% |
| Extract Transform Load (ETL) | 37,069 | 31% |
| Data Engineering | 36,953 | 31% |
| Computer Science | 36,029 | 30% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 35,355 | 30% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Database Engineers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 40,350 | 34% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 33,255 | 28% |
| Management | 32,234 | 27% |
| Problem Solving | 26,039 | 22% |
| Operations | 21,022 | 18% |
Based on 119,011 job postings related to database engineers, sql (programming language) was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 51% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for extract transform load (etl), data engineering, computer science, python (programming language) and data warehousing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for database engineers, followed by troubleshooting (problem solving), management, problem solving, operations and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| SQL (Programming Language) | 60,343 | 51% |
| Extract Transform Load (ETL) | 37,069 | 31% |
| Data Engineering | 36,953 | 31% |
| Computer Science | 36,029 | 30% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 35,355 | 30% |
| Data Warehousing | 25,747 | 22% |
| Amazon Web Services | 25,620 | 22% |
| Database Administration | 24,353 | 20% |
| Agile Methodology | 22,959 | 19% |
| Data Modeling | 22,543 | 19% |
| Microsoft Azure | 20,150 | 17% |
| Automation | 18,960 | 16% |
| Data Analysis | 18,745 | 16% |
| Data Pipelines | 17,353 | 15% |
| Scripting | 16,429 | 14% |
| Scalability | 15,450 | 13% |
| Java (Programming Language) | 14,305 | 12% |
| Data Quality | 14,285 | 12% |
| Performance Tuning | 14,165 | 12% |
| Apache Spark | 13,826 | 12% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 40,350 | 34% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 33,255 | 28% |
| Management | 32,234 | 27% |
| Problem Solving | 26,039 | 22% |
| Operations | 21,022 | 18% |
| Writing | 14,456 | 12% |
| Leadership | 13,961 | 12% |
| Information Technology | 13,494 | 11% |
| Planning | 13,016 | 11% |
| Detail Oriented | 11,925 | 10% |
| Research | 10,431 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 10,428 | 9% |
| Innovation | 9,733 | 8% |
| Self-Motivation | 9,598 | 8% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 8,758 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 7,762 | 7% |
| Mentorship | 7,604 | 6% |
| Mathematics | 7,296 | 6% |
| Analytical Skills | 7,147 | 6% |
| Sales | 6,975 | 6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about database engineers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for database engineers.
What do database engineers do?
How much do database engineers make?
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