ETL Developer: Job Duties, Skills and Salary 2025

What You’ll Learn About ETL Developers

What Does an ETL Developer Do?
Key Duties & Responsibilities
How to Become an ETL Developer
ETL Developer Salary Guide
How to Advance Your Career
Typical Work Environment

What Does an ETL Developer do?

An ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) Developer specializes in the design, implementation, and maintenance of data warehouse systems. They are responsible for extracting data from various sources, transforming it to fit operational needs, and loading it into the end target, which could be a data warehouse or other data repository. ETL Developers create and use tools to handle data in a way that supports analytics and reporting in an organization. They work closely with data architects and database administrators to create comprehensive data solutions that allow businesses to leverage their data effectively for decision-making and strategic planning.

ETL Developers play a crucial role in managing data workflows essential for business intelligence, data integration, and data quality projects.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

ETL Developers in the IT & Development field handle essential tasks and contribute significantly to achieving team and organizational goals. Here are some of their primary responsibilities:

Design, develop, and maintain optimal data pipeline architectures.
Assemble large, complex sets of data that meet non-functional and functional business requirements.
Identify, design, and implement internal process improvements: automating manual processes, optimizing data delivery, re-designing infrastructure for greater scalability, etc.
Build the infrastructure required for optimal extraction, transformation, and loading of data from a wide variety of data sources using SQL and AWS ‘big data’ technologies.
Work with stakeholders including the Executive, Product, Data, and Design teams to assist with data-related technical issues and support their data infrastructure needs.
Keep data secure and ensure compliance with data privacy regulations.

How to Become an ETL Developer

Launching a career as an ETL Developer requires a specific education. We outline the essential qualifications, skills, and steps to enter this field.

Qualification

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
Proven experience as an ETL Developer or in a similar role.
Experience with ETL tools (such as Informatica, Talend, SSIS) and data integration technologies.
Experience with data modeling, data warehousing, and building ETL pipelines.
Knowledge of scripting languages (e.g., Python, Perl).
Strong analytical skills to work on complex, cross-functional, and data-intensive projects.
Familiarity with cloud services (AWS, Azure) and database technologies (SQL, NoSQL).

Requirements & Skills

Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to project manage.
Detail-oriented with an aptitude for analysis and data accuracy.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
Ability to work independently and with teams in a dynamic business environment.
Effective communication skills for interacting with different levels of technical staff and stakeholders.

ETL Developer Salary Guide

Wondering what ETL Developers earn? Explore salary ranges by experience, and career tips to maximize your earning potential.

Job	Branch	Avg. US Salary
ETL Developer	IT & Development	85,000 USD

The average salary for an ETL Developer in the U.S. is approximately $85,000 per year and can vary from entry-level to senior positions. ETL Developers may receive a wide range of benefits.

ETL Developer Salary Career Steps

Level	Experience	Avg. Salary per Year
Veteran	20+ years	$106,250
Senior	11+ years	$93,500
Experienced	6-10 years	$85,000
Mid Level	3-5 years	$76,500
Entry Level	0-2 years	$63,750

To explore more detailed salary information, including specific salary estimates in your country, visit the ETL Developer Salary Country Overview.

How to Advance Your Career

ETL Developers can progress to senior data roles such as Data Architect, Data Warehouse Manager, or Business Intelligence (BI) Manager. They may also specialize further in areas like data science or advanced analytics. Continuous learning and certifications in new tools, technologies, and methods are crucial for advancing in a rapidly evolving field.

Typical Work Environment

ETL Developers typically work in office environments, often as part of IT or data management teams in industries ranging from finance and healthcare to retail and government. They might also work remotely, depending on the company’s policies. The job can involve periods of intense concentration and problem-solving, usually within a standard workweek, although deadlines can occasionally require longer hours.