How To Become A Sap/Abap Developer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a sap/abap developer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A sap/abap developer is an individual responsible for developing and implementing SAP software solutions using the ABAP programming language. They work with the SAP system to design and develop new software applications, as well as modify and customize existing ones to meet the needs of businesses. A sap/abap developer must have a strong understanding of programming languages, software development methodologies, and database management systems, as well as excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

ScoreSap/Abap DeveloperUS Average

Salary

7.7

Avg. Salary $104,432

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.1

Growth Rate -7%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.18%

Asian 25.25%

Black or African American 4.10%

Hispanic or Latino 7.23%

Unknown 4.41%

White 58.84%

Gender

female 26.63%

male 73.37%

Age - 48

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 - 48

Stress Level

5.1

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.3

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.7

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Sap/Abap Developer?

Pros

High demand for SAP/ABAP developers
Good salary and benefits
Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology
Room for growth and career advancement
Collaborative work environment

Cons

Steep learning curve to become proficient in SAP/ABAP development
Long hours and tight deadlines
High stress environment, especially during project go-live periods
Constant need to stay up-to-date with new SAP releases and technologies
Limited job mobility due to specialization in SAP technology

Key steps to become a sap/abap developer

Explore sap/abap developer education requirements

Most common sap/abap developer degrees

Bachelor's

74.2 %

Master's

21.6 %

Associate

1.8 %

Start to develop specific sap/abap developer skills

Skills	Percentages
Java	5.79%
SAP Abap	5.58%
Sap Hana	5.21%
SQL	4.08%
PI	3.84%

Complete relevant sap/abap developer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New sap/abap 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 a sap/abap developer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sap/abap developer resumes.

Research sap/abap developer duties and responsibilities

Manage the necessary extractors and perform the necessary enhancements.
Configure the EDI interface for sending the purchase order IDOC to the vendor.
Develop reports to send the necessary data like master data to the portal end in terms of XML.
Work extensively on administration workbench (AWB).

Prepare your sap/abap developer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your sap/abap 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 a sap/abap 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 Sap/Abap Developer Resume templates

Build a professional Sap/Abap 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 Sap/Abap Developer resume.

Apply for sap/abap developer jobs

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

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

How do sap/abap developers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Sap/Abap Developer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020

Pros

I like more technical Configuration and Analyze, also i like to create new functional under SAP and share to end user, also like with sap hana.

Cons

creation report