SQL Engineers build, maintain, and optimize the database systems that organizations rely on to store and use critical data. Explore vetted SQL Engineer opportunities on Ladders, including roles with salaries of $100,000 or more. Employers may use titles such as SQL Developer, Database Engineer, Data Engineer, or SQL Database Developer for similar work.
SQL Engineers design database structures, write and refine queries, support data pipelines, and help ensure information is accurate, secure, and available. Depending on the role, they may work with relational database platforms, collaborate with software and analytics teams, troubleshoot performance issues, and document data models and processes.
Common qualifications include strong SQL programming skills, experience with relational databases, and knowledge of database design, indexing, query optimization, and data integrity. Employers may also seek experience with cloud data platforms, ETL or ELT tools, scripting languages, version control, and business intelligence systems. Requirements vary by position and industry.
SQL Engineers are hired across technology, finance, healthcare, retail, consulting, and other data-intensive industries. Teams may focus on application databases, enterprise reporting, analytics infrastructure, or large-scale data platforms. Many roles involve close collaboration with developers, data scientists, analysts, and business stakeholders.
Browse SQL Engineer jobs and related database and data engineering roles on Ladders. Discover vetted professional opportunities paying $100,000 or more, and compare positions based on responsibilities, required skills, and work arrangements.
$101K - $152K *
Optimize enterprise data models to enhance analytics, AI, and operational systems. Collaborate across teams to ensure data scalability, governance, and interoperability, driving consistency and best p...
6 days ago
Technical Consultant - Geospatial Data & Databases | TS/SCI
$84K - $142K *
Engage with Defense and Intelligence customers to design and optimize enterprise database environments for geospatial applications, ensuring performance, security, and resilience in mission-critical s...
6 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Transform the future of AI engineering by designing and implementing LLM-powered tools and systems. Collaborate with a dynamic team to optimize software applications and deliver innovative solutions f...
1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Join a dynamic Agile team to enhance federal IT through innovative testing techniques, ensuring high-quality software delivery and supporting digital transformation in critical government environments...
3 weeks ago
Software Engineer - Crypto Data Foundations
$152K - $179K *
Drive the development of distributed systems for real-time blockchain data ingestion and indexing, owning services from design to production while enhancing performance and reliability across the plat...
Today
$120K - $145K *
Take ownership of complex data infrastructure design and automation, ensuring reliable pipelines and mentoring peers. Elevate team performance by enhancing CI/CD processes while working independently...
4 weeks ago
$145K - $160K *
Empower our cloud-native database environment by managing PostgreSQL databases, optimizing performance, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance data architecture and security in a dyn...
2 weeks ago
$145K - $160K *
Manage and optimize cloud-native PostgreSQL databases, ensuring high availability and security. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance data architecture and support disaster recovery while...
2 weeks ago
Software Engineer (Full Stack)
$120K - $200K *
Unlock potential by joining our engineering team to build high-performance, user-facing trading products. Shape the future of real-time web applications while collaborating across the stack to deliver...
3 weeks ago
Software Engineer II, Data & ML Platform
$78K - $131K *
Transform data workflows by designing scalable tools that empower teams to leverage data effectively. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance platform usability and reliability, driving inn...
1 week ago
$195K - $250K *
Innovate in healthcare by leading the development of scalable billing solutions that enhance customer experiences and streamline workflows, while owning features and participating in end-to-end softwa...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$195K - $250K *
Transform healthcare by leading development in billing systems, focusing on scalable solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance customer experience through innovative software engin...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Software Engineer, Data Engineering
$117K - $172K *
Join a team that's revolutionizing data infrastructure by designing and implementing high-performance data models and pipelines, ensuring data quality, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to...
6 days ago
Software Engineer, Data Engineering
$117K - $172K *
Join us to enhance our data infrastructure and automation, collaborating with teams to design and implement high-performance data models and pipelines, ensuring data quality and reliability for inform...
6 days ago
Software Engineer, Data Engineering
$117K - $172K *
Lead the charge in scaling data infrastructure and automation, collaborating with cross-functional teams to design and implement high-performance data models and pipelines that drive decision-making a...
6 days ago
Software Engineer - Data Platform
$113K - $191K *
Innovate by designing and operating scalable data infrastructure for petabytes of data, enabling customer-facing features and analytics across global industries, while enhancing systems for reliabilit...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$160K - $200K *
Lead and empower a team of software engineers to innovate and deliver impactful solutions, driving technical excellence and fostering a culture of growth and collaboration to enhance user experiences...
5 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Innovate robust software solutions in a mission-critical environment, leveraging cloud services and big data analytics. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance system performance and drive...
4 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Drive innovation by designing and developing scalable software solutions in a cloud-based environment, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance data processing and analytics capabilities...
4 days ago
$95K - $115K *
Innovate with a skilled team to develop high-performance React applications, enhancing global shipping operations. Collaborate in an agile environment to create seamless user experiences while optimiz...
3 weeks ago
Principal Application Engineer
$140K - $180K *
Unlock your potential by developing engineering specifications for oil and gas projects. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure compliance with industry standards while supporting procurem...
3 days ago
$130K - $155K *
Explore your potential as a Data Engineer, shaping data architecture and pipelines to drive business intelligence. Collaborate with finance and payment stakeholders to develop key data products that s...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$130K - $160K *
Engineer and scale data systems that enhance data-driven decisions. Collaborate with finance and payments teams to deliver reliable architectures, resilient pipelines, and foundational data products f...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$130K - $155K *
Own the end-to-end data architecture, develop critical data pipelines, and enforce data quality standards to empower data-driven decisions and support analytics, ML, and product engineering efforts ac...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$130K - $155K *
Lead the design and implementation of robust data architectures and pipelines, collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive data-driven insights. Play a key role in enhancing data quality and op...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
What does an SQL Engineer do?
An SQL Engineer designs, develops, and maintains database systems and SQL queries. The role can include data modeling, query performance optimization, database troubleshooting, and supporting analytics or application data needs.
What skills are commonly required for SQL Engineer jobs?
Employers commonly look for advanced SQL, relational database experience, database design, query optimization, and data quality knowledge. Some positions also require cloud platforms, ETL or ELT tools, scripting, or business intelligence experience.
Are SQL Engineer and SQL Developer the same role?
The titles often overlap, but responsibilities differ by employer. SQL Developers may focus more on writing queries and database code, while SQL Engineers may also own database architecture, performance, reliability, and data pipeline work.
What industries hire SQL Engineers?
SQL Engineers work in many industries, including technology, financial services, healthcare, retail, consulting, and media—especially wherever organizations depend on databases and reporting.
How can I find SQL Engineer jobs paying $100,000 or more?
Use Ladders to explore vetted professional SQL Engineer and related database roles with salaries of $100,000 or more. Review each listing for compensation details, qualifications, and responsibilities.