What is an etl developer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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Extract Transform Load (ETL) developers are responsible for extracting and copying business data and loading it into a data warehousing environment that they have designed. You need to have both design and programming skills as you are also responsible for testing the performance of the system and troubleshooting any problems before it goes live. Your duties include identifying data storage requirements. After figuring out the needs, you will build a data warehouse tailored to an organization's needs and then extract the data and deliver it to the new system. You are expected to run tests to ensure its stability.

A bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or related field is required for this position. You need extensive knowledge of coding languages, including Java, XML, and SQL. Clear communication skills and the ability to troubleshoot and solve complex technical problems are also needed for this role. You will earn an average annual salary of $109,881.

ScoreETL DeveloperUS Average
Salary
7.2

Avg. Salary $92,419

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
4.0

Growth Rate 21%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 35.15%

Black or African American 4.25%

Hispanic or Latino 7.97%

Unknown 4.75%

White 47.72%

Gender

female 32.04%

male 67.96%

Age - 38
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38
Stress Level
4.0

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.9

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.6

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

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ETL Developer career paths

Key steps to become an etl developer

  1. Explore etl developer education requirements

    Most common etl developer degrees

    Bachelor's

    75.5 %

    Master's

    21.5 %

    Diploma

    1.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific etl developer skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    SQL Server6.62%
    Data Warehouse6.47%
    Unix4.57%
    Data Analysis3.88%
    BI3.78%
  3. Complete relevant etl developer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New etl developers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an etl developer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real etl developer resumes.
  4. Research etl developer duties and responsibilities

    • Support and maintain production Cognos web portal to manage the OLAP cube and folders.
    • Implement Perl scripts to load the financial information and to automate frequent reports for the users.
    • Coordinate with DBA in creating and managing table, indexes, table spaces, triggers, dB links and privileges.
    • Migrate the jobs from DataStage 8.1 to 8.7 and the environment from AIX to LINUX.
  5. Prepare your etl developer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your etl developer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an etl developer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable ETL Developer Resume templates

    Build a professional ETL Developer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your ETL Developer resume.
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    ETL Developer Resume
  6. Apply for etl developer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an etl developer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First ETL Developer Job

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Average etl developer salary

The average ETL Developer salary in the United States is $92,419 per year or $44 per hour. Etl developer salaries range between $72,000 and $118,000 per year.

Average ETL Developer Salary
$92,419 Yearly
$44.43 hourly

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How do etl developers rate their job?

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ETL Developer reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Cons

Mostly a sitting job with no opportunity to travel and interact with the business.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Cons

Stressing and you have to keep always updated

Pros

Improve every day, a good salary, a lot of job opportunities


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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