SQL Server Career Paths

The document discusses various career paths related to SQL Server, including database administrator, database developer, data scientist, ETL developer, BI developer, BI administrator, Microsoft certified trainer, SQL Server writer, big data expert, Azure/AWS expert, and others. It provides brief descriptions of common job responsibilities for positions like database administrator, database developer, data scientist, ETL developer, and BI developer. The document also lists additional resources for learning more about SQL Server career opportunities and salaries.

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SQL Server Career Paths

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SQL Server Career Paths

By: Daniel Calbimonte | Updated: 2017-11-09 | Comments | Related: More > Professional Development Career Planning

Problem
I would like to know what types of jobs are related to SQL Server. Can you give me some examples of jobs SQL Server professionals
have around the globe?

Solution
Sure. This time we will talk about different types of jobs related to SQL Server.

According to keycdn, DB-Engines and StackOverflow, SQL Server is in third place as one of the most popular databases. There are
millions of SQL Server databases around the world on-premises and in the cloud (Amazon Web Services, Azure, etc.) and there are
numerous technology professionals that work with SQL Server on a daily basis.

Here is a list of some of the jobs:

Database Administrator (DBA)

Database Developer
Data Scientist
ETL Developer
Developer
BI Developer
BI Administrator
Microsoft Certified Trainer/Trainer
Speaker
SQL Server Writer
Big Data Expert
Azure/AWS Expert
Database Engineer
Database Migration Engineer
Data Analyst
Reporting Engineer
BI Solution Architect
BI/Business Analyst
BI Manager
NoSQL DBA
Big Data Architect

Database Administrator (DBA)

A DBA is a person who administers and maintains a SQL Server database. A DBA can design, implement and maintain a database. In
SQL Server you can automate tasks using PowerShell, SSIS, T-SQL, etc. The DBA should maintain indexes, statistics, create a
recovery strategy, implement replications methods as well as oversee security, performance and high availability.

Database Developer
A Database Developer oversees the database design and implementation of databases for different applications. The Database
Developer must have a deep knowledge of T-SQL and sometimes ETL solutions.

Data Scientist
Data Science is a relatively new job related to Machine Learning, Data Mining, Databases and Big Data. The Data Scientist are
responsible for analyzing, predicting and collect data to improve the business. The data analysis can help for medicine, telecom, politics,
etc.

A data scientist has knowledge in computer science, statistics, data collection, mathematics, information science, etc.
ETL Developer
ETL is the process to Extract, Transformation and Load data. In SQL Server, SQL Server Integration Services is used. Usually, the
company information is extracted and loaded into a Data Warehouse. The process to extract, transform and load information is a hard
job and takes a lot of time.

There are other ETL tools like Pentaho, Oracle Data Integrator, Talend Data Integrator, Alteryx Analytics and more tools.

Developer
If you write code in PHP, .Net, Java or other programming languages, you may need to connect to SQL Server for some projects. The
better you know the database, the better performance you can get. There are several tasks that are more efficient using T-SQL and not
in UI. SQL Server may not be your main technology, but as a developer using SQL Server can be an important task where you need to
know to some administrative tasks. Also, it is important to learn indexing and T-SQL performance tips to improve the user experience.

BI Developer
Business Intelligence Developer is a popular job related to Data Warehousing, Reporting and data transformations. If you are using
SQL Server, you will have to work withSSIS, SSAS, SSRS, Power BI and SharePoint. You may need to handle other query languages
like MDX and DAX for cubes.

BI Administrator
BI Administrators are typically responsible for running ETL processes, creating backups, processing cubes, etc. A BI Administrator
usually works on the performance of the Cubes using Multidimensional or Tabular modes. A BI administrator must have SQL Server
knowledge of SSAS, performance, XMLA, etc. Also, the BI administrator oversees the security and maintenance for the environment.

Microsoft Certified Trainer/Trainer

A Microsoft Certified Trainer/Trainer teaches professionals or students about SQL Server. The MCT allows you to teach Microsoft
courses. There are several certifications in SQL Server that you can teach if you have great technical and teaching skills.

SQL Server Writer

There are companies like MSSQLTips, SQLServerCentral, SimpleTalk, etc. that can pay you for writing articles. You can work at home,
enjoy your life, take your time with no pressure at all.

Big Data Expert

Some data can be stored in SQL Server on-premises. Specially if it is relational data. However, as a Database Expert, you will need to
also deal with Big Data technologies like Hadoop, Spark, Hive, etc. SQL Server supports PolyBase to query Big Data using T-SQL. You
may need to be expert in SQL Server and Big Data.

Azure/AWS Expert
Amazon Web Services and Azure are the most popular Cloud services in the world. You can have SQL Servers in AWS or Azure. For
that, you need strong skills in these cloud technologies.

In Azure you can have a virtual machine with SQL Server or Azure SQL. The first one is like a SQL Server on-premises. The second one
is access to a SQL Server, where you do not need to take care about backups, the Operative System. You only connect to it and use it.

Database Engineering
A database engineering is like a Database Developer. Depending on the company, the skills required may be different.

Database Migration Engineering

The migration engineering oversees the data migration of data from different type of sources like Excel, XML, HTML, CSV files, Oracle
to destination databases like SQL Server, Oracle, DB2, etc.

The technologies used can be SSIS, Pentaho and other tool like Oracle Data Integrator, Talend Data Integrator, Alteryx Analytics.

Data Analyst
This expert will be able to Analyse data, create reports, KPIs. In the SQL area, it will be able to use Power BI, Reporting Services, Excel
and have knowledge about BI technologies like SSAS in multidimensional or Tabular models. In some cases, knowledge of SSAS Data
Mining or R will be required.
Reporting Engineering
The Reporting engineering will be able to generate, automate delivery of multiple reports using Power BI, Reporting Services, Excel or
other technologies. The Reporting Engineering must have strong query performance skills specially if he deals with a big amount of
data.

BI Solution Architect
A BI Solution architect must be expert in different BI technologies and provide to the customer the best solution for their needs including
hardware required, software and the architecture of the solution itself.

BI/Business Analyst
This job is like a Data Analyst. The responsibilities may be different according to the company.

Analytics Managers
Basically, is the leader of Data or BI Analysts.

NoSQL DBA
There are a lot of information with the IoT, Social Network, Telecoms, etc. It is really hard to handle the information with Relational
Databases. A DBA must also be able to handle NoSQL. Information not stored in traditional databases. This job may imply to handle
databases like ObjectDB,ODABA, Perst, Bigtable, Mnesia, Apache River, etc.

This job is not related to SQL Server, but you may need to access from SQL Server to these types of databases.

Big Data Architects

This job requires to know different Big Data Technologies and recommend the best solution for the company. In this job, the expert will
recommend hardware and software for the Big Data Solution, architecture and design of the solution.

There are more jobs and positions related to SQL Server, but this article gives an idea about this impressive technology.
Next Steps
For more information about SQL Server jobs, refer to these links: