Hey aaron and serge, since you're both here right now...

[MicahCarrick]

We all just responded to that one post at about the same time, so since you're both here ....


You guys seem to be Analyst programmers and what not, I was wondering what a proffesional VB programmer does? Do you need to know alot about databases and do alot of grunt work, and do VB programmers get paid well? How do you go about getting a job as a VB programmer ... etc.

[Aaron Young]

A Professional Programmer, Programs Professionaly

Seriously though, the title and requirements of the Job can vary so dramatically, in my position I'm paid to Improve on existing Software, Analyze and Design new Products, troubleshoot existing and future problems and find solutions and so on and so on..

You don't neccessarily need to know alot about Databases, depending on the situation, but I find it sure makes everything go along alot easier if you do, you should at least have a good understanding of SQL, (in my opinion).

Programmers Salaries vary as much as their Titles and Responsibility, it tends to be a well paid job though, depending on experience and company etc..

I personally got started about 4.5 years ago by working for a Direct Marketing Company in Bristol, England for 2.5 years as a Network Adminstration Asst. It required little to no professional experience and paid peanuts, but gave me the foot-hold in the industry I needed. After a few months I managed to get them to let me program in-house and quickly became an Analyst Programmer and Network Admin.

Now, only a couple of years later, (at the ripe old age of 22), I'm working for a Business Accounting Software Company in MN as an Analyst Programmer, my experience got me this job, and they've come to lean on me quite a bit as I'm now leading up the latest project for the next 18 months, (unfortunately it's in Visual FoxPro, but I'm flexible).

[MicahCarrick]

Congrats on your success.

Thanks for the info

[MartinLiss]

According to the VBPJ 1999 salary survey, the average programmer makes $64,000 a year base salary and $74,000 total compensation. Those numbers are for people with 6 - 8 years experience. People with 1 year or less earn 39,000 and with 1 - 2 years 49,000.

[Serge]

On my side, I work as a sinior developer. This requires me to be knowledgeable with databases as much as with VB.
I'm being responsible for design and development of the application and database (along with 2 other people).
In companies where I've worked before, it was a Requirement to know one of the databases (Access, SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase etc)

My current work also requires me to know ASP, as we do a lot of web development using it. Sure enough, it pays my bills. So if you're thinking about getting programming proffesionally, then I would suggest get to know database side of it as well.

Of course, the entry level programmer is not expected to be a genius in database programming, besides, every stored procedure you're going to write is going to be reviewed by a senior developer or a project leader (atleast that's how it is in my company).

Just my $0.02

P.S. I've been doing this for 6 years now.

Good Luck Micah.

[MicahCarrick]

Thanks guys. I appreciate your 2 cents serge. I don't think I'm about to dive into the job search just yet ... I'm still a rookie and all and have 0 experience and education in the area ... but it's good to know. Gives me some idea as to what may be possible down the road.

Keep up the good work guys.