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Database Engineer

Database engineers manage a company's flow of information. They design and maintain a database that provides informative and relevant data to other employees within the organization. Database engineers may be employed by financial services firms, healthcare providers and other companies that make use of large amounts of information.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the overall employment of software developers, including database engineers, is expected to increase by 22% between the years of 2012 and 2022 (www.bls.gov). Per the BLS in 2013, applications software developers earned an annual median salary of $92,660, while systems software developers earned $101,410.

Database engineers are in charge of keeping a company's database available, secure and stable. They must constantly test the data that is coming from the database to ensure it is not corrupted. Most databases require constant updates to keep up ever-changing computer technologies. Database engineers integrate new products and software packages into the system, and seeing that the data produced is accurate. They may even train other employees in the organization on how to access a database and how to make the best use of its contents.

Qualifications
Database engineers come into their positions in a variety of different paths, but all share an in-depth knowledge of computer programming and data manipulation techniques. There are many technical degrees that can help aspiring engineers develop a working knowledge of databases and computer technologies. Popular undergraduate majors include computer science, information science or mathematics. Since technology is constantly changing, some companies may give more credence to an applicant's knowledge and professional experience than to their degree, but degrees are often required for entry-level positions.
Education
Bachelor's degree related to computer science
Salary
$95,000
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