Database Developer vs. Data Engineer: What Are the Differences?

If you’re interested in working with data, you may be wondering what the difference is between a database developer and a data engineer. Both roles work with data, but they have different responsibilities. In this article, we’ll explain the difference between a database developer and a data engineer, and we’ll provide some tips on how to choose the right career for you.

What is a Database Developer?

Database Developers design, develop, test and implement computer databases, according to an organization’s needs. They work in a variety of industries and are responsible for ensuring that data is stored securely and can be easily accessed and retrieved by authorized users. Database Developers often work with Database Administrators to fine-tune systems and ensure optimal performance. They may also be responsible for developing data models and database architectures, as well as writing code to create stored procedures, triggers and user-defined functions.

What is a Data Engineer?

A Data Engineer is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the data infrastructure that allows organizations to make data-driven decisions. Data Engineers work with Data Architects to design and implement data systems that are scalable, reliable, and efficient. They develop data pipelines that extract data from multiple sources and load it into a central data warehouse. Data Engineers also build and maintain data lakes, which are repositories of raw data that can be used for data mining and analytics. In addition, Data Engineers develop and maintain the ETL (extract, transform, load) processes that extract data from source systems, transform it into the desired format, and load it into the data warehouse.

Database Developer vs. Data Engineer

Here are the main differences between a database developer and a data engineer.

Job Duties

Both database developers and data engineers use their knowledge of computer science, mathematics and engineering to help companies improve their processes. However, the specific tasks they perform for their employers differ. Database developers focus primarily on creating databases that allow users to access information efficiently. They create the schemas, or blueprints, for these databases and then ensure that the databases operate correctly once they go live.

Data engineers work more closely with big data, which is a term used to describe large volumes of structured and unstructured data. Data engineers often use tools like Hadoop and Spark to process this data before passing it along to other engineers or analysts. They also sometimes assist in the creation of machine learning algorithms.

Job Requirements

Database developers and data engineers typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or another related field. They might also need experience working with databases, as well as strong programming skills. Some employers prefer candidates who have a master’s degree in computer science or a related field. Additionally, database developers and data engineers can pursue certifications to show their proficiency in specific database management systems (DBMS). For example, Oracle offers certification for its MySQL, SQL and PL/SQL DBMSs.

Work Environment

Database developers typically work in an office setting, but they may also travel to meet with clients. They often collaborate with other members of a team and communicate regularly with them via email or phone calls. Data engineers usually work in an industrial environment where they can access the physical machines that store data. This means they may spend most of their time on construction sites or in factories.

Skills

Both database developers and data engineers use their technical skills to design and develop systems that store and organize data. They also use their problem-solving skills to identify issues with existing systems and find ways to improve them.

Database developers typically use programming languages, like SQL, to create databases. They also need to have a strong understanding of how different types of databases work in order to choose the best one for a particular project. Data engineers usually work with larger data sets and more complex systems than database developers. As a result, they often need to use more specialized skills, like Apache Hadoop and MapReduce, to process and analyze data.

Salary

Data engineers earn an average salary of $113,717 per year, while database developers earn an average salary of $92,815 per year. Both of these average salaries may vary depending on the size of the company at which you work, location of your job and the level of experience you have prior to pursuing either position.