It is common to see changes in the job market for software developers as quickly as you would see changes in technology. One trend that is set to stay is the demand for SQL developers, as more companies are becoming more data-driven. If you consider almost any app today, they are centered on data, from your fitness app to the stock market. SQL deals with how apps communicate with a database, and so this the job of an SQL developer will remain key in the IT industry.
Explaining SQL
Structured Query Language is what is used to “query” data from relational databases. You will be able to find a great number of databases but some of the favourites are PostgreSQL. Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, and SQ Lite which is preferred for mobile projects.
To hire the best SQL developer for your company, you will need to have a knowledge of SQL, but you also need to take into consideration the aspects that will give you a competitive edge, such as the salary, the location, and what your rivals are up to.
There are a number of things that will affect a SQL developers salary, experience, software and location are two factors that we are going to cover. We are going to take a closer look at some of the major countries in Europe.
SQL Developer Salaries in the UK
The average income for SQL developers has been on the increase. In 2018 you could expect a salary of around 53,000€, in 2019 this rose to 57,120€, and the average for 2020 up to now is 58,890€. This is slightly less than the average income for all programming languages, which for 2020 is approximately 61,834€.
The actual salary will range from 26,00€ for junior positions and 94,000€ for senior/lead positions. London and surprisingly, the Channel Islands have the highest average salaries at 70,670€. There are currently 1,406 vacancies for SQL developers in London. The lowest average incomes are in the South West, Wales, and Northern Ireland with average salaries of between 47,110€ and 48,586€.
In the UK, the top skills required for SQL developers are C#, Agile Software Development, SQL Server, and .NET.
SQL Developer Salaries in Germany
If you were looking for an SQL developer job in Germany, you can expect to earn less than you would in the UK. The average salary is 45,000€. The lowest average is around 35,000€ and it will go up to 57,000€. The most popular field in Germany is SSIS (Server Integration Services).
What surprised us about Germany was when we looked at the average income in the capital, Berlin. The average income is about 30,000€.
If you are just starting your career as an SQL developer (with 1-4 years of experience), you will be among 64.3% of SQL developers in Germany. You can expect an income of around 42,500€. 35-7% of SQL developers are considered to have 5-9 years of experience and have an average salary of 57,391€.
SQL Developer Jobs in Eastern Europe
Eastern European countries are gaining in popularity for their excellent level of skills, proficiency in English, and reasonable rates. For example, the average income for a SQL developer in Bulgaria is 15,351€. There is quite a significant difference when you look at levels of experience. For those with less than 1 year of experience, the average salary is just 8,698€. With 1-4 years of experience, this increases to 15,352€,5-9 years and the jump is quite a bit, up to 25,585€. If you have more than 10 years, the average income is approximately 27,120€.
Regardless of where you choose to work as a SQL developer, there is plenty of demand.
