How Much Do SQL Jobs Pay?

Careers in technology have many benefits, but the one people care for the most is, of course, the high salary. Everyday people are changing their careers to the tech industry and being rewarded with what seems like exorbitant salaries. If you learn a skill like SQL, this may happen to you as well.

SQL jobs pay an average of $70,000 per year depending on the actual position, and this can grow into salaries well over $100,000 annually. The reason is that these jobs are very crucial and in high demand from businesses to fill.

There are tons of factors that determine your actual salary, including what kind of job you're working, where you're located, and what your skillset is. We'll go over it all so you can decide if this could be the direction you want our career to take.

Why Do SQL Jobs Pay So Much?

To start, what is it that you need to know about SQL? SQL is an acronym that stands for "Structured Query Language." It's a programming language used to modify data in a database to read, manipulate, and understand that data. SQL may be a suitable choice for your new job because the learning curve isn't as steep as you may expect, especially when compared to other jobs.

As more firms integrate technology like complex databases into their operations, they want personnel who are fluent in SQL to manage all this. The demand for these workers far outnumbers the qualified people who possess the necessary capabilities.

The income is the most noteworthy benefit of SQL in your skillset. Even without a formal degree, one may learn SQL and find themselves in demand for very high-paying positions. But how much do these occupations truly pay?

What is the Pay Range For Jobs in SQL?

Just starting out, you can land a job paying a minimum of $65,000 per year, and that's just the lower end. As you gain ability and expertise, you'll be able to become qualified for positions paying well over $100,000 per year.

SQL jobs can pay a lot; how much the range is depends on the specific job you go for. Here are a few examples:

• Database Administrator. This job involves setting up databases to organize and manage data. It has an average pay of $73,603 per year. The lower end pays in the range of $47k, while the higher end can be around $111k.
• Software Engineer. This job involves actually programming and executing the software that we use every day. It averages $88,419 annually, with higher-end salaries closer to $118k. SQL is a highly recommended skill for this job.
• Data Scientist. This career involves analyzing vast sets of data to gain meaningful insights. It has an average salary of a whopping $97,051 per year and could go up to $136k. SQL is an invaluable skill for this job, as a data scientist requires knowledge of how databases function.

As you can see, no matter which career choice to pick, the options are varied and the pay is high. There are many jobs you can apply for that you can choose based on the skills you want to apply and where you feel you'll be most successful. SQL is diverse enough to be applicable to all these different jobs.

How Did This Pay Range Become The Standard?

It might sound crazy that they would pay so much for just knowing SQL, but the industry has established this pricing range as a norm due to the importance of these roles and the tremendous demand for them.

SQL developers and solutions are becoming more crucial in the way organizations run day-to-day; the industry needs them as data grows more complex and accessing it becomes more important. Since this career is in such high demand, the pay is relatively high.

Why This is the Right Job for You

Some of the biggest reasons people have changed their career to the tech industry have been the higher pay, the improved quality of life, and the potential for growth. If these sound appealing to you, then SQL is a good path.

What Can Determine this Pay?

Factors that can determine your pay are your location and your skillset, as well as your experience. You likely won't get over $100k per year as your first job, but even entry-level careers in this field pay much higher than average jobs. As demand for higher-level positions grows, and as you gain experience in SQL, you'll likely move up the ranks very quickly.

Location plays a factor in pay as well. Smaller cities aren't as likely to have pay as high as bigger areas like Silicon Valley, but they come with advantages like lower living expenses and less competition. A $70k job in a smaller city will put more money in your pocket than a $70k job in a bigger city because you'll be spending less on rent and day-to-day expenses.

How You Can Get Even More

By investing your time into learning SQL, you're going to guarantee that you'll be in high demand from employers. However, the actual base salary isn't the only benefit you'll get from an SQL job. Many companies offer other incentives that could lead to your overall income rising higher than what's on the page.

These could include stock options. Most large companies will give you stock in their business in addition to your income. The more you work for them, the more efficiently they'll be able to operate, which means their value in the market will rise. This all leads to your own stock growing higher. The best part is that even if you decide to leave and work somewhere else, you'll still have your supply of stock.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the pay and what kinds of jobs are out there, you can decide whether or not to pursue SQL as a career with more confidence. SQL is one of the easier programming languages to learn, but can be the foundation of a career that will change your life.