Database Consulting

[BillBoeBaggins]

Is there any money in it? Anyone who does it and has thoughts and/or opinions?

[mendhak]

Sure, many companies hire DBAs exclusively in order to free the developers from database tasks. As a DBA, it'll be your job to criticize their scripts and refuse simple login requests that they make to you. The feeling of power will complement the salary you receive.

[zaza]

Also, you will need to polish an array of stock answers such as "oooh, that's going to take at least two hours" and "So 300 users affected; is that a lot?"

[Hack]

I have a feeling this a question to which the OP is interested in some serious feedback, so I'm moving it to General Developer.

Most large companies have DBAs that do nothing else but administer their databases. Typically, programmers in environments like this have no control over the database, but, need to submit requests to the DBA in order to have changes made. This is the type of environment in which I've worked for most of my career. I've never been a DBA so I've no idea what they make, but, I'm sure it is decent money.

[FunkyDexter]

Also, "I'm sorry but I can't replicate the problem" can get you out of untold tight corners.

[BillBoeBaggins]

Not really looking for the whole DBA angle. Though maybe doing it on retainer or something might be ok. More like developing peoples databases, their rollouts, and then fixing/updating old databases. etc.

I don't want to be onsite every day, or even near to every day. If that flushes it out more.

[GaryMazzone]

Database Archeitect would pay well. At least it did for Oracle positions. Most would want about 10 years experience with data modeling to get to that position though

[BillBoeBaggins]

10 years.. *sigh*... I have developed small time databases for about 7 years now, mostly Access, with some intermittent SQL Server ones. I am currently a data analyst for a company. So I don't get a lot of "on the job" experience, though I do use SQL every day.

[techgnome]

Sounds like there's a lot more to learn then... Replication, admin, security, SQL Jobs, design, statistics, indexing, load balancing, building servers. I'm sure there's more, that's just what I come up with off the top of my head. These are the kinds of things most DB Consultants are going to need to do.

Here's how it works for us (we do a little bit of DB Consulting, primarily in support of our app): Customer buys our software, but doesn't have an IT dept, or if they do, it's someone's relative, or friend from college/previous job. We give them the specs on what they will need in terms of hardware and they usually acquire it. We then usually sent our IT person on site to setup the server, create logins, attach it to the network, install SQL Server, create the SQL Logins, build the database (sans data and structure, we do that later), and grant initial permissions.

In the case of another client that has 5 locations around the midwest, we then setup a job that extracts data from all 5 locations, and dumps it into a sixth location to be used by management and our web-front end.

While I think I kick arse when it comes to SQL, there's no way I think I could handle the rest of it.

-tg

[BillBoeBaggins]

Could I make a beginning by designing the databases, writing stored procedures for them, and then fix/edit already built queries, then add on stuff as I learn it ie. load balancing as you mentioned.

Here's the deal. I want to be self-employed. I like SQL and designing databases. I have a degree in programming but I would rather not be a full time coder. So I have come to a crossroads of sort, leave tech all together and do it as a hobby or make a dive into Database stuff.

[techgnome]

It's possible... but the jobs may be few and far in-between. You can try looking at places like RentaCoder.com to see what they have. It's a decent place where people are usually trying to get things done on the fast and cheap. However, it's not ideal for finding enough employment for one to live off of.

-tg

[Merrion]

If you don't have DBA experience then you will need a certification (like MCDBA) and to be prepared to start towards the bottom of the pay/responsibility scale - DBAs are like heart surgeons: nobody really wants the new one.

[GaryMazzone]

Even with a cert with out experience it will mean next to nothing. Most also want a degree. When I started in the field all I needed was some experience (mostly with Oracle) and every one was chasing me. Much harder now, still work out there but much more compitition and a lot of people with experience and certs.

[BillBoeBaggins]

I don't think I am willing to move to the bottom anymore. Not looking for a DBA position either.

Thanks for all your input guys.